Effect of sequence order of combined strength and endurance training on new adiposity indices in overweight elderly women

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Obesity and physical inactivity increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia and certain cancers. Exercise training and increased fitness promote positive changes in body composition and improve insulin sensitivity. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of sequence order of combined strength and endurance training on new adiposity indices: visceral adiposity index (VAI), body adiposity index (BAI) and waist to hip ratio (WHtR) in overweight elderly women. METHODS: Forty overweight elderly women (age range: 60.34 ± 0.82 years old) were selected purposefully and randomly assigned into four groups: endurance, then strength (E->S) (n=9), strength, then endurance (S= >E) (n=10), alternative concurrent training (ACT) (n=12), and control (n=9) groups. Training was performed three times per week for eight weeks. Endurance training performed on a cycle ergometer (intensity: 60-88% MHR) and strength training included several selected exercises targeting upper and lower body (intensity: 40-75 1RM, 8-18 repeat). RESULTS: The results showed that the amount of weight, BMI, body fat percentage, BAI and WHtR have significantly decreased in E + S, S + E and ACT experimental groups (P< 0.05). No significant differences were found in VAI variable and triglyceride with sequence order of E + S and S + E, but after sequence order of ACT a significant decrease was seen in both variables (P' 3/4 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the three combined training groups for the mentioned variables (P' 3/4 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sequence does not seem to play a role in the positive effect on current adiposity indices of the investigated training programs. © 2018 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.