The effect of Virtual Reality Cycling with Music on simple obesity in college students: evidence from a randomized controlled trial in China.

Background: Simple obesity has become an increasingly prevalent health concern among college students. Existing research indicates that traditional exercise methods may not sufficiently engage this population, particularly those facing barriers to regular physical activity. Thus, this study investigated how combining VR cycling with music influenced fat reduction in this population. Method: This study recruited 78 Chinese college students with simple obesity (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m Results: The VR cycling with music group exhibited significant improvements in key physiological metrics compared to the control group. Notable changes included a 4.1% reduction in weight, a 2.8% decrease in BMI, and a 2.8% reduction in waist circumference. Hip circumference also decreased by 2.5%, while the waist-to-hip ratio dropped by 0.016 units. Furthermore, the intervention led to a 7.2% increase in vital capacity, with all outcomes showing statistical significance ( Conclusion: Participants in the experimental group experienced significant reductions in weight, BMI, and both waist and hip circumferences, as well as a notable improvement in vital capacity. The study highlights that combining virtual reality cycling with music resulted in more substantial weight loss and fat reduction in obese college students, compared to traditional cycling methods.