The effects of combined exercise on functional fitness and risk factors of metabolic syndrome in the older women

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in functional fitness and risk factors for metabolic syndrome after 12 weeks of combined exercise in women of advanced age. Subjects consisted of twenty women of advanced age with metabolic syndrome (Control, 10; Combined, 10) whose age was over 75. The combined exercise program included stretching for 20 minutes, aerobic exercise for 30 minutes, resistance training for 15 minutes, and Asana yoga for 15 minutes. Subjects exercised 4 times a week for 12 weeks. We found that LBM (lean body mass) was significantly increased and visceral fat was significantly decreased after 12 weeks. Also, self-reliance fitness and the risk factors for metabolic syndrome were significantly improved after 12 weeks in the combined exercise group. Therefore, it appears that combined exercise plays a positive role in body composition and fitness and reduces the risk factors for metabolic syndrome in women of advanced age.