2.5.2. Outcome Measures
muscle mass, TG, MM
BLOOD
Body composition: Body composition was assessed by measuring body weight, BMI, body fat percentage (FP, %) and muscle mass (MM, %) using a BCA 2A Body Composition Analyzer (Tongfang Health Technology Company, Beijing, China). The participants were tested on an empty stomach on Saturday and Sunday mornings in accordance with the test guidelines, with instructions to avoid strenuous exercise the day prior to testing. During their measurements, each participants stood barefoot on the base of the apparatus with their heels on the ground electrodes, pressed the soles of their feet against the oval electrodes in front and held the hand electrodes with both hands, holding for 40–60 s until all measurements were completed [Blood lipid: The blood-lipid parameters assessed were high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, mg/dL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, mg/dL), total cholesterol (TC, mg/dL) and triglycerides (TG, mg/dL); an AU5821 Clinical Chemistry Analyzer (Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, Brea, CA, USA) was used to analyze the blood lipids. Due to the specialized nature of the blood lipid measurement, a qualified nurse completed the measurements and evaluations. The participants provided a 2 mL fasting blood sample before 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday before and after the intervention. They were instructed to avoid alcohol and fast for 12 h before the test, and they received psychological counselling throughout the study. Lipid data were converted from mmol/L to mg/dl and the cholesterol (i.e., TC, LDL-C, HDL-C) and TG data were multiplied by 38.67 and 88.57, respectively [