Long-term Endurance Training as a Modulator for Preventing Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Obese Individuals

Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of endurance training as a modulator in the prevention of cardiovascular disease risk in obese individuals. Materials and methods. This study used a true experimental method with a pretest-posttest control group design. Twenty-five obese women aged 20-30 years with a body fat percentage of ≥30% were assigned to a control group (CNT) and an exercise group (EXC). The EXC group underwent an eight-week (three sessions per week) endurance training program (treadmill) lasting 40-60 minutes per session. Blood pressure (BP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and resting heart rate (RHR) were measured using an OMRON HBP-9030 digital tensiometer and a Polar H10 heart rate sensor at the start (pre) and after eight weeks (post) of endurance training. Results. Significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), MAP, and RHR were detected between the pre- and post-endurance training phases (all p ≤ 0.001). Additionally, a notable decrease in SBP, DBP, MAP, and RHR was observed between the groups (all p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions. The findings indicate the effectiveness of an eight-week endurance training intervention, contributing to a consistent reduction in SBP, DBP, MAP, and RHR in obese women.