Sixteen weeks of resistance training can decrease the risk of metabolic syndrome in healthy postmenopausal women.
BACKGROUND
The postmenopausal phase has been considered an aggravating factor for developing metabolic syndrome. Notwithstanding, no studies have as yet investigated the effects of resistance training on metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women. Thus, the purpose of this study was to verify whether resistance training could reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Twenty postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to a resistance training protocol (n = 10, 53.40 ± 3.95 years, 64.58 ± 9.22 kg) or a control group (n = 10, 53.0 ± 5.7 years, 64.03 ± 5.03 kg). In the resistance training protocol, ten exercises were performed, with 3 × 8-10 maximal repetitions three times per week, and the load was increased every week. Two-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate specific metabolic syndrome Z-score, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, waist circumference, blood pressure, strength, and body composition. The level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.


RESULTS
The main results demonstrated a significant decrease of metabolic syndrome Z-score when the postmenopausal women performed resistance training (P = 0.0162). Moreover, we observed decreases in fasting blood glucose for the resistance training group (P = 0.001), and also significant improvements in lean body mass (P = 0.042, 2.46%), reduction of body fat percentage (P = 0.001, -6.75%) and noticeable increases in muscle strength after resistance training to leg press (P = 0.004, 41.29%) and bench press (P = 0.0001, 27.23%).


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that resistance training performed three times a week may reduce the metabolic syndrome Z-score with concomitant decreases in fasting blood glucose, improvements in body composition, and muscle strength in postmenopausal women.
Exercise Physiology Laboratory, School of Physical Education, State University of Campinas, Campinas.
Miguel Soares
MS
Conceição
Valéria
V
Bonganha
Felipe Cassaro
FC
Vechin
Ricardo Paes de Barros
RP
Berton
Manoel Emílio
ME
Lixandrão
Felipe Romano Damas
FR
Nogueira
Giovana Vergínia
GV
de Souza
Mara Patricia Traina
MP
Chacon-Mikahil
Cleiton Augusto
CA
Libardi
D000886:Anthropometry; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D055070:Resistance Training; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior
metabolic syndrome; postmenopausal women; resistance training