Effects of Eight-Week Resistance Training in Different Environmental Conditions on Arterial Factors in Overweight Men

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of eight weeks of resistance training in different environmental conditions on arterial factors in overweight men. The present study was conducted in Kermanshah, Iran, on thirty overweight males with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 27.41.57 kg/m2, who voluntarily participated in this study. The subjects were randomly divided into a hypoxic and a normoxic resistance training group and a hypoxia exposure group, and performed the training protocols for eight weeks. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) were measured before and after performing the intervention. The results showed a significant increase in the level of VEGF in all the three groups (P < 0.05). Significant differences were also observed between the groups in terms of changes in VEGF (P < 0.05). In the hypoxic resistance training group, HDL increased and LDL, TC and TG significantly decreased (P < 0.05). No significant changes were, however, observed in lipid profile in the hypoxia exposure and normoxic resistance training groups. The present findings suggest that hypoxic and normoxic resistance trainings and hypoxia exposure positively affect the level of VEGF, and only the hypoxic resistance training could improve lipid profile in overweight subjects. Hypoxic resistance training is concluded to be a more effective method for improving arterial factors in overweight men.