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Improvement in insulin sensitivity, but without changes in liver enzymes in obese women after 12 weeks of a walking exercise program with self-selected intensity

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Abstract

Background

Obesity is related to negative changes in insulin resistance and liver enzymes and is associated with the risk factor for the development of type II diabetes mellitus and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. A number of studies have demonstrated that aerobic exercise shows promise for disease prevention and treatment in this population.

Aim

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a walking exercise program with self-selected intensity on insulin resistance and liver enzymes in obese women.

Methods

Forty-eight obese women (47.8 ± 8.4 years; 88.1 ± 12.0 kg; 158.0 ± 0.1 cm) were divided into two groups: control group (CG; n = 23) and self-selected walking group (SSWG; n = 25). Before and after the exercise program, all subjects underwent anthropometric measurements and blood samples were collected. The intervention consisted of a walking exercise program with self-selected intensity for 12 weeks (3 times/week, totalizing 36 sessions).

Results

After the exercise program, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and HOMA improved only in the SSWG (p < 0.05), but there were no differences between groups (p > 0.05). In addition, there were no differences in liver enzymes after the intervention in both groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

The results support that a walking exercise program with self-selected intensity improved insulin resistance in obese women. Thus, exercise programs with self-selected intensity seem to be an interesting alternative for improving health and preventing diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education, Londrina State University, Rod. Celso Garcia Cid-Pr 445, Post Office Box 10.011, Londrina, Paraná, 86057-970, Brazil

    Adalberto Ferreira Junior, João Julio Garavelo, Leandro Ricardo Altimari, Juliano Moro Gabardo & Luis Alberto Garcia Freitas

  2. Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine - University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Cosme Franklim Buzzachera

  3. Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil

    João Victor Del Conti Esteves

  4. Centro de Pesquisa Em Exercício E Esporte, Universidade Federal Do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil

    Sérgio Gregório da Silva

  5. Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Maringá, Brazil

    Solange Marta Franzói de Moraes

Authors
  1. Adalberto Ferreira Junior
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  2. João Julio Garavelo
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  6. Cosme Franklim Buzzachera
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  7. João Victor Del Conti Esteves
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Correspondence to Leandro Ricardo Altimari.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures were approved by the University’s Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects (Human Research Ethics Committee) (process n. 071112) and were conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki.

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All participants were aware of the procedures and risks of the experimental protocol, and read and signed an informed consent.

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Ferreira Junior, A., Garavelo, J.J., Altimari, L.R. et al. Improvement in insulin sensitivity, but without changes in liver enzymes in obese women after 12 weeks of a walking exercise program with self-selected intensity. Sport Sci Health 16, 459–464 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-020-00625-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-020-00625-7

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