Effect of Resistance Training with Different Intensities on Adiponectin and Lipid Profiles in Overweight Women

The global epidemic of obesity has affected the general health. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of low and moderate intensity circuit resistance trainings on the levels of adiponectin and lipid profiles in overweight women.

A total of 54 overweight women [31.56±2.24 years, 80.45±9.4 kg, 28.3±6.21 kg/m2] were randomly assigned into three groups of moderate intensity circuit resistance training (MICT), low intensity circuit resistance training (LICT), and control. Exercise training program was conducted for eight weeks, three sessions per week. Before and after the exercise training program, the levels of adiponectin and lipid profiles were measured. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, analysis of covariance test and Bonferroni post hoc test were used. Data analysis was performed in SPSS, version 20, with the significance level set at p≤0.05.

At the beginning of the study and before applying the exercise protocol, there was no difference in baseline adiponectin between the groups (p>0.05). The results indicated that adiponectin levels significantly increased after eight weeks of moderate-intensity circuit resistance training as compared with control group (p=0.027), but changes in adiponectin levels were not statistically significant in low intensity group (p=0.14). Decrease in the levels of LDL-c (p=0.001), cholesterol (p<0.001), and TG (p<0.001) and increase the levels of HDL-c (p<0.001) were significant in moderate intensity group compared to those of the control group.

According to the results obtained in the present study, moderate-intensity circuit resistance training has been shown to be effective in increasing adiponectin, therefore, the lipid profiles in this group had a significant improvement related to these changes.