Comparison of two combined exercise methods and ginger consumption on weight loss and active anorexic hormone hormones in women

Exercise activity has been shown to affect the concentration of leptin-affecting hormones such as insulin, cortisol, sex hormones, catecholamines, and growth hormone by altering leptin levels. The aim of this study was to compare effects of two combined training methods and ginger consumption on weight and anorexinergic hormones in overweight women.

The study was performed on 32 overweight women aged 30-45 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 25-30 kg/m2. The subjects were randomly divided into four groups of resistance training, resistance training + high intensity interval training (HIIT), HIIT + resistance training and HIIT. All subjects received 250 mg of ginger supplement daily, four times a day for eight weeks. The subjects performed HIIT at 80-90% of target heart rate in form of jogging, 35 minutes a session, three sessions a week for eight weeks. Subjects in the resistance training group performed eight weeks of training at 40-50% of one repetition maximum with 20-35 repetitions. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and 48 hours after the last training session. All data were analyzed with SPSS software (version 24) at 95% confidence interval using analysis of covariance and paired t-test.

Findings showed that eight weeks of combined training and ginger consumption were not significantly different in leptin, cortisol and fat profile and body mass index of women (p> 0.05). However, there was a significant difference in the ratio of WHR and insulin to insulin resistance of overweight women (p <0.05).

It seems that the combined training method (resistance + HIIT) has a significant effect on WHR compared to other training protocols and it is recommended to use combined exercise for weight loss.