Assessment of Physical Fitness Following a 12-Week Physical Exercise Program Among Adults Attending Wellness Centers at the Primary Health Care Corporation, Qatar: A Retrospective Study.

Abstract

Background Physical fitness (PF) is a critical determinant of health, influencing cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, and overall metabolic function. In Qatar, sedentary lifestyles and physical inactivity are prevalent, contributing to increasing rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases. Structured physical exercise programs, integrated into community wellness centers, offer a practical intervention to improve PF, yet their real-world effectiveness remains under-evaluated in the local context. Methods This retrospective study analyzed data from 739 adults who completed a 12-week structured physical exercise program at seven wellness centers operated by Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Qatar, between January 2022 and December 2023. The program consisted of three weekly supervised sessions combining aerobic and resistance exercises, with heart rate monitored to maintain moderate intensity (≥70% of maximum heart rate). Pre- and post-program assessments measured VO₂ max (using the Cooper 12-minute test), muscular endurance (push-ups, wall sit, plank), and anthropometric data of weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and fat mass. Paired t-tests assessed changes in the means before and after the physical exercise program, and correlation analysis explored relationships between fitness improvements and demographic or anthropometric factors. Results After 12 weeks, VO₂ max increased significantly (mean difference = 2.47 mL/kg/min; p < 0.001), alongside improvements in muscular endurance (push-ups: +4 reps; wall sit: +18 seconds; plank: +16.77 seconds; all p < 0.001). Significant reductions were observed in weight (-0.95 kg), BMI (-0.27 kg/m²), WC (men: -0.99 cm; women: -2.34 cm), and fat mass (-1.42 kg) (p < 0.001). Correlation analysis revealed a weak negative correlation between age and VO₂ max change (r = 0.061), indicating that younger participants tended to show more remarkable aerobic improvement. Higher BMI and fat mass also correlated negatively with VO₂ max gains (r = -0.094 and r = -0.083, respectively). At the same time, gender showed minimal correlation with fitness changes, suggesting that baseline body composition and age influence exercise response more than sex. Conclusion The structured 12-week exercise program significantly improved PF among adults in community wellness settings. These findings support integrating exercise prescriptions into primary care, to enhance population-level fitness and prevent chronic disease in Qatar.