Effect of 8 weeks pilates exercise on plasma visfatin and insulin resistance index in obese women

Visfatin is a newly characterized adipokines which is highly expressed in visceral adipose tissue and similar effects with insulin in the body and can be involved in diabetes and inflammatory reactions. There is conflicting information available regarding the effect of regular exercise on these factors. The aim of this study was assessing the effect of 8 weeks pilates exercise on visfatin level and insulin resistance in obese women.
this study was a semi-experimental research. Twenty obese volunteer women (age 45.75±2.45 yr, body mass index 34.16±2.84 kg/m2, fat percentage 42.70±2.95% and waist-hip ratio 1.02±0.06 (means ±sd) were randomly divided into two equal groups (each with 10 individuals), experimental and control. Pilates group were performed pilates exercises 3 times per week for 8 weeks, each session 60 min, while control group just were followed. Body composition, glucose, insulin and visfatin levels were measured in two groups before and after intervention. Insulin resistance index (homa-ir) was measured by the calculation of relevant equation. For inter group comparison, paired t-test and between group comparison independent-t test was used (significance level p 8 week Pilates significantly reduced weight (p=0.000), fat percentage (p=0.000), BMI (p=0.002), glucose (p=0.027), insulin resistance (p=0.000), visfatin (p=0.014) in obese women in the exercise group compared with the control group.
Pilates training, decreases plasma visfatin and insulin resistance in obese women. and can to maintain good health as proper exercise protocol used in these patients. It is recommended that new training protocols and a variety of others, especially at the elderly and vulnerable to be investigated.