PMID 40891691

Research
All papers

High-intensity Interval Training and Mindfulness Breathing Induce Hormonal, Metabolic, and Anticarcinogenic Effects in Obese Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Nagy EN, Shafiek M, Elsheimy H, Mogahed HG, Elsayed MM

Question

Do 12 weeks of supervised cycling HIIT plus mindfulness breathing improve metabolic, hormonal, lipid, and tumor biomarker risk factors in obese postmenopausal women compared with medication-only control?

Summary

Sixty obese postmenopausal women completed a 12-week randomized trial comparing medication alone with supervised cycling HIIT plus 5 minutes of mindfulness breathing and medication. The intervention group improved weight, BMI, HOMA-IR, lipids, sex hormones, and tumor biomarkers, with no reported negative effects, but the combined mindfulness plus HIIT design prevents isolating HIIT alone.

Methodology

  • Sedentary obese postmenopausal women with dyslipidemia and family cancer history.
  • 60 participants.
  • Stationary cycling.
  • Work intervals: 60 seconds.
  • Recovery: 75 seconds low-intensity cycling.
  • Intensity: 85-90% peak heart rate for work; 40% PHR recovery; Borg 15-19.
  • About 32.5 minutes cycling plus 5 minutes mindfulness breathing.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 12 weeks.
  • Prospective randomized controlled trial
  • HOMA-IR, Lipids, Body weight, and Hormones and tumor markers were tracked.

Outcomes

Body weight

Experimental group weight and BMI decreased markedly while control increased.

Experimental weight 97.42 +/- 6.18 to 75.49 +/- 6.58 kg, p<0.001; BMI 37.88 +/- 1.93 to 30.53 +/- 1.65 kg/m2, p<0.001.

Improved

HOMA-IR

Experimental HOMA-IR decreased and control HOMA-IR increased.

Experimental 2.65 +/- 0.59 to 1.24 +/- 0.3; control 2.63 +/- 0.45 to 2.91 +/- 0.35; p<0.001.

Improved

Lipids

Experimental TC, TGs, and TC/HDL decreased and HDL increased; control worsened.

All abstract-reported lipid changes p<0.001.

Improved

Safety

No negative effects of the intervention were reported.

No clear change

Insights

  • Clinical HIIT for older obese women used strict HR, BP, symptom, and hydration safeguards.
  • The evidence applies to a combined mindfulness plus HIIT intervention, not HIIT alone.

Limitations

  • Cannot isolate mindfulness breathing effects
  • Specific postmenopausal obese female sample
  • Potential unmeasured diet and stress confounding
  • Long-term adherence and sustained effects not reported

Safety

  • No reported negative effects of the intervention.
  • Per-session contraindications and termination criteria were specified.