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

Objective To find out the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and mindfulness breathing on the levels of sex hormones, insulin resistance, lipid profiles, and tumor biomarkers in postmenopausal obese women. Design Seventy obese postmenopausal women (aged 55-65 years, with a body mass index (BMI) ranging from 35–44.9 kg/m 2 ) were allocated into two groups for this prospective, randomized, controlled study: the experimental group, which received HIIT and mindfulness breathing in addition to their medications, and the control group, which only received medication. Serum sex hormone levels (estradiol, total testosterone [TT], free testosterone [FT], and sex hormone-binding globulin [SHBG]), insulin resistance assessment using the homeostasis model [HOMA-IR], lipids (total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TGs], high-density lipoprotein [HDL], and TC/HDL), and tumor markers (Carcino Embryonic Antigen [CEA] and Cancer Antigen [CA125]) were among the pre and post assessments conducted after 12 weeks. Results After 12 weeks of the study, the HIIT and mindfulness breathing group showed significant decreases in weight, BMI, FT, TT, estradiol, HOMA-IR, CEA, CA125, TC, TGs, and TC/HDL and increases in SHBG and HDL (all p  < 0.001). In contrast, the control group had increases in weight, BMI, FT, TT, estradiol, HOMA-IR, CEA, CA125, TC, TGs, and TC/HDL and decreases in SHBG and HDL (all p  < 0.001). Conclusion HIIT and mindfulness breathing were efficient approaches for lowering metabolic, hormonal, and tumor-related risk factors in obese postmenopausal women.