The effect of eight weeks high- intensity interval training with and without with resistance training on lipid profiles and glucose homeostasis in overweight/obese middle-aged women

Obesity is a global challenge due to the positive energy balance. Exercise training is one of the best methods for managing obesity and related disorders. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of eight-week high- intensity interval training (HIIT) alone and combined with resistance training (CHRT) on lipid profiles and glucose, insulin and insulin resistance in overweight/ obese middle-aged women.

Twenty-four middle-aged overweight/obese women participated in two homogeneous HIIT (5 days/week, n=12) and CHRT (3 days/week HIIT with 2 days/week resistance training, n=12) groups for eight-week. The HIIT protocol consisted of alternating bouts of high-intensity exercise at 80%–85% of VO2max with active breaks at 60% of VO2max and resistance training protocol conducted to a circuit-weight training with 75-80% of 1-RM. Blood samples were collected 48 hours before and after the training period, and then the data were analyzed using SPSS.

The findings showed that the reduction of BMI and WHR was not significant in the HIIT group (p>0/05), but body fat%, cholesterol, TG, HDL, LDL, glucose, insulin and insulin resistance significantly decreased in both group (p<0/05). WHR and lipid profiles were significantly different between the two groups (p<0/05), change levels was greater in CHRT group.

Results of this study showed that CHRT, through the dual effects of the compensatory mechanisms of both training methods, can better lead to weight loss and adjusted metabolic status in middle-aged overweight/obese women than HIIT.