Resistance training exercises for obese and non-obese individuals living in high-altitude regions utilizing biochemical markers-A controlled trial.

Background: High-altitude disease prevalence varies according to types of exposure and the effects of hypoxic and hypobaric environments, with the result that people at high altitudes present many different physiological responses.

Aims: The research aims to analyze the effects of resistance training (RT) exercises at high altitudes on obese subjects and to explain the determinants that make obese people more susceptible to various chronic illnesses such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, asthma, etc.

Methods: This study recruited 225 subjects living in the high-altitude region of Aseer, Saudi Arabia, and divided them into three groups. The first two groups consisted of obese people, out of which one group received RT and one did not. The third group consisted of average-weight individuals, according to their BMI, who received RT. Biochemical parameters were checked for all three groups before commencing with the RT and at the 4th and 8th week to measure the effects of the exercise.

Results: Mean and standard deviations of the demographic variables: age was 34.2 ± 8.9 years, weight was 69.3 ± 8.5 kg, and height was 1.6 ± 0.06 meters. RT had a significant effect on the total levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, adiponectin, interleukin-6, and testosterone. Post-hoc comparisons using the Fisher's Least Significant Difference test indicated that the mean scores between the groups differed significantly.

Conclusion: Our findings show that RT would be a useful and practical substitute to improve the health status of obese patients. It helps to decrease body fat and to improve lipid profiles and hormonal control.