The effect of high intensity interval training on lipid profile and glucose homeostasis in overweight / obese middle-aged women

Obesity is a global challenge that due to the positive energy balance and the use of the best exercise protocol is one of the methods for obesity and related disorders management. Therefore, 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 software.

The findings showed that the reduction of BMI and WHR was not significant in the HIIT group, but body fat%, cholesterol, TG, HDL, LDL, glucose, insulin and insulin resistance significantly decreased in both group, that WHR and lipid profiles were significantly different between the two groups.

Results of this study showed that CHRT can lead to weight loss and adjusted metabolic status in middle-aged overweight/obese women.