Walking Training Improves Thyroid and Cardiometabolic Markers in Postmenopausal Obesity

Moderate Intensity Intermittent Walking Training (MIWT) Improves Thyroid Function and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Obese Postmenopausal Women

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the impact of a 10-week MIWT program on thyroid hormone levels and key cardiometabolic markers in obese postmenopausal women. The main question it aims to answer is:

Does MIWT enhance thyroid function and reduce cardiometabolic risk factors in this population? Researchers will compare MIWT (designed to MIWT group) to non-training intervention (designed to control group) to see if the training program works to improve thyroid function and cardiometabolic risk factors.

Participants in MIWT group will: perform a 10-week MIWT program, four sessions per week (5 repetitions of 6-min-walking-test (6MWT) at 60-80% of 6MWTdistance measured at baseline, interspersed by 6-min of active recovery between repetitions).

Participants in control group will : not perform any physical training and maintain their usual daily activities.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Thyroid Hormones; Cardiometabolic Risk Factors
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Moderate intensity intermittent walking training

Detailed Description

This study aimed to investigate the impact of a 10-week MIWT program on thyroid hormone levels and key cardiometabolic markers in obese postmenopausal women. Thirty-six obese postmenopausal women (BMI≥30 kg.m-2, aged 50-60 yrs.) were randomized to either a moderate-intensity intermittent walking training (MIWT) group (n=18) or control group (CG, n=18). Participants performed a 10-week MIWT program, four sessions per week (5 repetitions of 6-min-walking-test (6MWT) at 60-80% of 6MWTdistance measured at baseline, interspersed by 6-min of active recovery between repetitions). Body composition, thyroid hormones (thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine free (FT4)), lipid profile (triglycerides (TRG), total cholesterol(TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDLC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDLC)), blood pressure (systolic and diastolic blood pressure) and aerobic fitness (6MWT) were determined before and after the MIWT.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Tunisia
  • Kef
    • Boulifa, Kef, Tunisia, 7100
      • High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Body mass index≥ 30 kg.m-2.
• Age between 50 and 60.
• Amenorrhea for >12 months.
• Stable eating habits.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Chronic diseases.
• Medical contraindications to physical activity.
• Hormone replacement therapy.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: MIWT group; The MIWT group received moderate intensity intermittent walking training four times per week for 10 weeks.	Other: Moderate intensity intermittent walking training; The intensity of the training is 60 to 80% of 6MWTdistance.
No Intervention: Control group; The control group received no intervention for 10 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Thyroid hormones	Serum thyroid hormone concentrations are measured from a blood sample (5 ml) obtained from a prominent superficial vein in the antecubital region.	At baseline and after ten weeks of MIWT.
Body composition	Body composition was assessed using an electronic scale (Tanita BC-533, Tokyo, Japan),	At baseline and after ten weeks of MIWT.
Lipid profile	Measured by blood samples (5ml) from a prominent superficial vein in the antecubital region.	At baseline and after ten weeks of MIWT.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure	Systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements were conducted using an automatic blood pressure monitor (Omron BP652, Omron Healthcare Inc., Vernon Hills, IL, USA).	At baseline and after ten weeks of MIWT.
Heart rate	Heart rate was recorded after 10 minutes of relaxation in a seated position using an automatic blood pressure monitor (Omron BP652, Omron Healthcare Inc., Vernon Hills, IL, USA).	At baseline and after ten weeks of MIWT
6 min walking test distance	It was recorded using the 6 min walking test.	At baseline and after ten weeks of MIWT
Perceived exertion rating	Perceived exertion rating (RPE) was assessed with the extensively validated RPE, a 15-point scale ranging from 6 ("no exertion at all") to 20 ("maximal exertion").	At baseline and after ten weeks of MIWT.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Wissal Abassi

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 23, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 22, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): December 22, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 18, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 23, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 23, 2025
• Last Verified: January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Obesity; Body composition; Blood pressure; Lipid profile; Thyroid hormones; Moderate intensity intermittent walking training
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Endocrine System Diseases; Thyroid Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: Training and thyroid function

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: For confidentiality reasons, all data from this study are available upon request.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No