Meng Zhao ¹ Ying Lei ^1* Ziran Wei ² Ming You ²

• ¹ Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
• ² Nanjing Sport Institute, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 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/m²) and randomly assigned them to either an experimental group (VR cycling combined with music, n = 41) or a control group (traditional cycling, n = 37). Both groups engaged in 12 weeks of cycling training, three times a week, for 45 minutes per session. Key physiological indicators, such as weight, BMI, waist circumference, and hip circumference, were measured at baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention. Results: The VR cycling with music group exhibited significant improvements in key physiological metrics compared to the control group (all p < 0.05). There was a 4.1% reduction in weight, a 2.8% decrease in BMI, and a 2.8% reduction in waist circumference. Hip circumference reduced by 2.5%, while the waist-to-hip ratio decreased by 0.016 units. Additionally, the intervention resulted in a 7.2% increase in vital capacity, with all outcomes showing statistical significance (p < 0.01). The experimental group also reported higher levels of enjoyment and engagement throughout the intervention period. Conclusion: Participants in the experimental group showed notable decreases in weight, BMI, and waist and hip circumferences, along with improved vital capacity. The study demonstrated that a virtual reality cycling program, combined with music, significantly improved weight loss and fat reduction in obese college students compared to traditional cycling methods.