The Impact of Stationary Combined Exercise on Adiponectin and Hs-CRP Levels in Overweight Women (SCEX-ADCRP)

The Impact of Stationary Combined Exercise on Adiponectin and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels in Overweight Women

This study looked at whether a specific exercise program can improve inflammatory markers in overweight young women. We tested an eight-week, circuit-style exercise program that combines aerobic and resistance activities (e.g., sit-ups, step jumps, push-ups, jump rope, jumping jacks, medicine-ball lifts). Participants exercised four times per week at a moderate-to-high intensity, with a warm-up and cool-down at each session.

Twenty-two women (ages 20-30 years; BMI 25-31 kg/m²) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) the exercise group completed the training program; (2) the control group continued usual daily activities without a structured program. Before starting and 48 hours after finishing the program, we took fasting blood samples to measure two markers: adiponectin (a hormone made by fat tissue that supports healthy metabolism and has anti-inflammatory effects) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (a blood marker of inflammation and cardiovascular risk).

The main outcomes were the changes in adiponectin and hs-CRP from before to after the 8-week period. We also recorded weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and fitness (VO₂max). The study was conducted at the Exercise Physiology Laboratory, College of Physical Education and Health, Chongqing College of International Business and Economics (Chongqing, China). The research ethics committee approved the protocol, and all participants provided written informed consent.

Recruitment and data collection are complete. Findings suggest that this circuit-based exercise program can increase adiponectin and lower hs-CRP, alongside improvements in body composition, in overweight young women.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Obesity; Overweight; Inflammation, Low-Grade; Cardiovascular Diseases, Risk Factors
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Combined Exercise Group; Behavioral: No Structured Exercise

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 22
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Chongqing, China
    • College of Physical Education and Health

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Female sex Age 20 to 30 years BMI 25 to 31 kg/m² Body weight 63 to 87 kg Generally healthy, without diagnosed chronic illness Willing and able to provide written informed consent Willing to refrain from vigorous physical activity for 48 hours before blood sampling Able to attend 4 supervised training sessions per week for 8 weeks (if assigned to intervention)

Exclusion Criteria:

History of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or diabetes Current smoking or tobacco use Current use of medications or supplements that affect metabolism or inflammatory markers Pregnancy or breastfeeding Contraindications to moderate-to-high intensity exercise on screening Participation in regular vigorous exercise training within the past 6 months Inability or unwillingness to comply with study procedures (e.g., missing >2 consecutive training sessions)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Combined Exercise Group; Arm 1 reflects the circuit-based combined exercise intervention.	Behavioral: Combined Exercise Group; Participants completed an eight-week circuit-based combined exercise program, four sessions per week, at an intensity of 70-90% of maximum heart rate. Each session began with a 10-15 minute warm-up (stretching and light jogging) and ended with a 5-10 minute cool-down (walking and stretching). The main exercise protocol included six stations (sit-ups, step jumps, push-ups, jump rope, jumping jacks, and medicine ball lifting), performed in three rounds. The duration at each station progressively increased from 60 seconds (weeks 1-2) to 150 seconds (weeks 7-8), with rest intervals of 30-50 seconds between stations and 3-5 minutes between rounds. Exercise intensity was monitored with a Polar heart rate monitor to ensure participants stayed within the target zone.; Other Names: High-Intensity Circuit-Based Combined Exercise; Combined Stationary Exercise; SCEX Program (Stationary Combined Exercise)
Experimental: Control Group; Arm 2 reflects the no structured exercise condition.	Behavioral: No Structured Exercise; Participants in the control group will not receive any structured exercise program during the eight-week study period. They will be instructed to maintain their usual daily routines and refrain from initiating any new organized exercise or training programs beyond their routine physical education classes and everyday activities.; Other Names: Usual Activity; No Exercise Program

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Serum Adiponectin Concentration	Serum adiponectin (µg/mL) quantified by ELISA in the fasting state; difference from baseline to 48 hours after completion of the 8-week exercise program.	Baseline and 48 hours post-intervention (end of week 8).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Serum Adiponectin Concentration	Serum adiponectin (µg/mL) quantified by ELISA in the fasting state; difference from baseline to 48 hours after completion of the 8-week exercise program.	Baseline and 48 hours post-intervention (end of week 8).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Xianjie Zheng

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 20, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 10, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): April 10, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 13, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 14, 2025
• First Posted (Estimated): November 17, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 19, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 15, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: inflammation; hs-CRP; Adiponectin; combined station training
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Overweight; Obesity; Cardiovascular Diseases; Inflammation
• Other Study ID Numbers: College of Physical Education; K2016038 (Registry Identifier: Ethics Approval Number (Chongqing College of International Business and Economics Research Ethics Committee).)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

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