Abstract
PURPOSE: This research focused on examining how an 8-weeks intervention of high-intensity (HIAE) and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (MIAE) influenced body composition, β-amyloid (Aβ) levels, metabolic markers (glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR), and blood lipid profiles (total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C], and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C]) in obese middle-aged women. METHODS: Thirty obese middle-aged women (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m2, body fat ≥ 30%) were randomly divided into three groups: HIAE, MIAE, or control groups (n = 10 per group). The exercise groups performed aerobic exercise three times per week for 8 weeks at an intensity of 80-85% (HIAE) and 60-65% (MIAE) of VO2max. Body composition, Aβ levels, metabolic markers, and blood lipid profiles were measured before and after the intervention. A two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to analyze the data and determine interaction effects. RESULTS: Both the HIAE and MIAE groups showed notable reductions in body weight, body fat percentage, BMI, Aβ, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, and all blood lipid variables over time compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Significant time-by-group interaction effects were observed for each variable, with HIAE resulting in greater reductions in TC, TG, and LDL-C, and greater increases in HDL-C. Post hoc analyses showed a substantial rise in HDL-C levels for the HIAE group compared to the control group (p = 0.000), with a trend toward greater increases than in MIAE (p = 0.058). CONCLUSION: HIAE and MIAE interventions effectively improved metabolic and cognitive health markers in middle-aged women with obesity. These findings emphasize the dose-response effects of exercise intensity, with HIAE offering greater benefits for lipid control and Aβ reduction.