Comparing the Effects of 8-Week Combinational and Aerobic Exercises on Serum Visfatin and Insulin Resistance

Visfatin is a newly discovered adipokine and it is abundantly found in caul fat. Obesity leads to the increase of plasma visfatin levels. Physical activity is an appropriate method to lose weight and prevent obesity and other obesity-related diseases. The purpose of the present study is to compare the effects of 8-week selective aerobic exercises and combinational (aerobic and endurance) exercises on serum visfatin and Insulin resistance in inactive obese women. In this regard, 24 volunteer obese women with age average of 33.17 years, height average of 92.162 cm, weight average of 70.82 kg, and body mass index of 31.14 kg/m2 were investigated. The subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups of control, aerobic exercise and combinational exercise (8 people in each group). The exercises were performed during 8 weeks, 3 sessions a week and each session 1 hour. Before and after performing the exercises, blood sample was taken from the three groups. To determine within-group (pretest-posttest) effects, dependent t-test was used in each group and to determine between-group effects, independent t-test was used. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS software. As the research findings revealed, visfatin levels were significantly decreased in the aerobic exercises group (p = 0.003) and combination exercises group (P = 0.013) while there was no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.627). Moreover, Insulin resistance index was significantly decreased in the aerobic exercises (P = 0.005) and combinational exercises (P = 0.001); however, there was no significant difference between the two groups. Accordingly, decreasing lipid profile, visfatin levels and Insulin resistance index, aerobic and combinational exercises can prevent obesity and its related complications.