Comparison of Different Exercise Modalities In Improving Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors Among Obese Females

Abstract

There is compelling evidence of an obesity phenomenon worldwide and interest in structured physical activity in improvement on overall health. Moderate to high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength resulting from aerobic and strength training appears to be protective against diabetes, CVD, and metabolic syndrome. Aerobic and strength training have also been shown to have beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome risk factors by improving in glucose metabolism, lipids profile, blood pressure, and abdominal obesity via different physiological pathways. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of different modes of training on metabolic syndromes risk factors among obese females. A total of 52 participants (22.71± 1.53 years old) participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned into aerobic (n=13), strength (n=13), concurrent (n=13), and control (n=13) groups. Intervention groups (aerobic, strength and concurrent) engaged in training 3 times weekly for 8 weeks, with approximately one hour per session at moderate intensity (aerobic; 50-70% of heart rate reserve, strength; 50-70% 1 repetition maximum). The concurrent training group spent 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, followed by 30 minutes of strength exercise. Triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), fasting blood glucose (FBG), resting blood pressure (RBP), and waist circumference (WC) were measured in this study. A significant improvement (p < 0.05) was observed in fasting blood glucose (FBG), resting blood pressure (RBP), and waist circumference (WC) in intervention groups. It can be summarized that regular involvement in exercise was associated with a reduction in most metabolic syndrome risk factors among obese females.