The Effect of 8-weeks of Aerobic Exercise Training on Plasma Visfatin and Lipid Profile of Overweight Women

The wide prevalence of obesity and associated diseases around the world, makes identifying a method to reduce its risk factors and the complications in obese individuals an important area to research. The present study examined the effect of 8 weeks of aerobic exercise on the plasma visfatin and lipid profile of overweight women. 19 overweight females (mean age, 22±1.85 years, weight 77.4 ±10.35 kg, body mass index, 30.3±4 kilograms per square meter, waist to hip ratio 0.85±0.04 and fat percent 33.9±3.35) volunteered to participate in the study and were randomly divided into 2 groups. 9 subjects were assigned to the aerobic training group (training 5 sessions per week, for 8 weeks. The first week began with the 65 percent of maximum heart rate reserve (HRR) and reached 80 percent of HRR in the eighth week). Ten subjects were assigned to the control group. Blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of the research to determine the changes in plasma visfatin levels and the lipid profile of the participants. Dependent and independent T-tests were used to analyze the data(P≤0.05). The T-test results showed that plasma visfatin and HDL levels significantly decreased (p=0.01), while TG levels increased significantly in the experimental group (p=0.03). The weight and body mass index of the experimental group were significantly lower compared to the control group (p≤0.05). Other variables recorded did not change significantly in the groups.Discussion and Training-induced weight loss and the eventual changes in the body composition of the experimental group had an important role in reducing the visfatin plasma levels.