The Effects of Diet Boxing on Self-Esteem, Stress Hormones, and Insulin Resistance in Middle-Aged Women with Obesity

This study examined the effects of a diet boxing program on self-esteem, stress hormone(cortisol), and insulin resistance(HOMA-IR) in obese middle-aged women. A pretest–posttest control group design was employed, and a total of 22 participants(experimental group=12, control group=10) who met the obesity criteria, had no regular exercise experience in the past six months, and voluntarily agreed to participate were included in the analysis. The findings revealed three major outcomes. First, the diet boxing program significantly improved self-esteem, as indicated by a meaningful time×group interaction effect. The experimental group showed a notable increase in post-intervention scores compared with baseline, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness in enhancing psychological self-evaluation. Second, a significant interaction effect was also observed for cortisol levels; the experimental group exhibited lower post-intervention cortisol concentrations than the control group, confirming the program’s efficacy in alleviating stress responses. Third, insulin resistance(HOMA-IR) showed a significant time×group interaction, with the experimental group displaying a marked reduction from pre- to post-intervention, indicating that the program also contributed to improved metabolic function. In conclusion, the 12-week diet boxing program produced meaningful improvements across psychological(self-esteem), physiological(cortisol), and metabolic(HOMA-IR) indicators. These findings demonstrate that diet boxing is an effective and integrative intervention capable of enhancing the holistic health of obese middle-aged women.