Comparison of a Period of Aerobic and Pilates Exercises on Glucose Homeostasis in Normal Weight and Obese Female Students

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is a significant problem which involves eating behavior and body metabolic conditions which has a direct relationship with glucose homeostasis. The main purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a period of endurance and Pilates exercises on blood insulin level, fasting blood sugar (FBS), and insulin resistance in normal weight and obese female students.

Methods: Students in one of the selected high schools in Lahijan city were the statistical population of this study. In this semi-experimental study, 15 healthy obese and 15 normal-weights girls participated voluntarily. Samples were selected by using convenience sampling method. The exercise protocol contains of endurance and Pilates exercises in a period of six weeks, three sessions per week, and each session is 90 minutes with the intensity of 65% to 80% target heart rate. The glucose homeostasis has been measured before and after the exercise programs. Statistical analysis has been performed using SPSS software version 21 and the significance level was set at 0.05. Collected data were analyzed with paired and independent t test.

Results: The average of age, for each obese and normal weight groups was 13.6±0.7 and 13.8±0.6 (year), and body mass index (BMI) was 28.8±1.8 and 20.2±2.2 (kg/m2), respectively. The results of study showed that 6 weeks aerobic training and Pilates training significantly reduced the weight (P= 0.004), body mass index (P= 0.001) and level of insulin and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) (P= 0.01) in obese girls than girls with normal weight.

Conclusion: It seems that 6 weeks aerobic and Pilates training can lead to further weight loss and BMI in obese girls and also a significant decrease in insulin levels and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR) in obese girls compared to normal weight girls.