Endurance-strength Training in Obese Women

Study patients. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects. The study meets the standards of the Declaration of Helsinki in its revised version of 1975 and its amendments of 1983, 1989, and 1996. Study design. The study was designed as a prospective randomized trial. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups, A and B, using a randomization list. Both groups performed three month of physical training. Group A underwent endurance training, while group B performed endurance-strength training. Aside from the training, all subjects were instructed to maintain the physical activity and diet that they had been practicing so far. At baseline and after three months of physical training, anthropometric measurements were performed and psychological questionnaires (Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10); The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES); Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ - 34); Figure rating scale (FRS); The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-18 (TFEQ-18)) were fulfilled for both groups. Intervention. The exercise program lasted three months, with three sessions per week. Women in both groups participated in a total of 36 training sessions. The women in group A underwent endurance exercise on cycle ergometers (Schwinn Evolution, Schwinn Bicycle Company, Boulder, Colorado, USA). Exercise sessions consisted of a five-minute warm-up (stretching exercise) at low intensity (50%-60% of maximum heart rate), a 45-minute exercise (at 50%-80% of maximum heart rate), five minutes of cycling without a load, and five minutes of closing stretching and breathing exercise of low intensity. Group B performed endurance-strength exercise consisting of a five-minute warm-up (stretching exercises) of low intensity (50%-60% of maximum heart rate), a strength component, an endurance component, 5 minutes cycling without a load, and a 5 minutes closing stretching and breathing exercise of low intensity. The 20-minute-long strength component was performed using a neck barbell and a gymnastic ball. Directly after the strength exercise, the women took part in a 25-minute endurance exercise on cycle ergometers (Schwinn Evolution, Schwinn Bicycle Company, Boulder, Colorado, USA) at 50%-80% of maximum heart rate. Both the endurance and endurance-strength training were comparable in exercise volume; the only difference was the nature of the effort.