Effect of short-term aerobic and combined training program on body composition, lipids profile and psychological health in premenopausal women

Abstract

Summary Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of short-term (eight weeks) aerobic and combined training program on the body composition, lipids profile and psychological health (depression), and to compare which training method is more effective in middle-aged premenopausal sedentary women. Methods Sixty-four women aged 35–45 years (age = 38.8 ± 3.0 years) were divided into three groups: Aerobic training, Combined training and the control group and women exercised during eight weeks. The subjects’ body composition was measured with anthropometric tape and skinfold caliper and also body fat percentage, fat mass and lean body mass were estimated using BIA. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein and also Beck Depression Inventory scores were registered at before and after eight weeks training. Results Aerobic training and combined training showed significant differences in fat percentage (−2.6%Δ, −4.2%Δ, and 0.2%Δ, P = 0.044 respectively) and fat mass (−5.5%Δ, −5.7%Δ, and 1.1%Δ, P = 0.034 respectively) compared to the control group. Considering the waist circumference, there was a significant difference only between the combined training and control group (−1.3%Δ, −2.6%Δ, and 0.5%Δ, P = 0.048 respectively). Aerobic training and combined training groups showed significant differences in total cholesterol (−7.9%Δ, −9.7%Δ, and 0.9%Δ, P = 0.022 respectively), triglyceride (−5.8%Δ, −6.9%Δ, and 2.0%Δ, respectively, P = 0.012), atherogenic index (−13.5%Δ, −16.0%Δ, and 2.3%Δ, P = 0.000 respectively) and Beck Depression Inventory score (−26.2%Δ, −24.7%Δ, and 8.7%Δ, P = 0.047 respectively) compared to the control group. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that both training methods could be used for loosing body weight, fat mass and fat percentage for middle-aged women. Although the combined training seems a little more efficient, aerobic training is also practically easier in order to control and maintain in a large scale training groups.