Cardiometabolic and Hormonal Adaptations to 4-Month Zumba Training in Overweight/Obese Women

Effects of a 4-month Intervention on Cardiometabolic, Hormonal, Inflammatory, Liver, Renal, Electrolyte, and Muscle Enzyme Parameters in Pre- and Post-Menopausal Overweight and Obese Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aims to evaluate the effects of a 4 month Zumba training program on cardiometabolic, hormonal, inflammatory, hepatic, renal, and functional parameters in overweight and obese women. Participants will be classified according to menopausal status (pre- or post-menopausal) and randomly assigned to an exercise group or a non-exercise control group.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Cardiovascular; Hormone; Obesity & Overweight
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Zumba training

Detailed Description

Overweight and obesity are associated with metabolic dysregulation, hormonal imbalance, chronic inflammation, and reduced physical capacity. Zumba training is a dance-based aerobic exercise that can improve cardiovascular fitness, energy expenditure, and adherence to physical activity programs.

This study will assess the effects of a 4 month Zumba training program (4 sessions per week, 60 minutes per session) on: Body composition and anthropometric measures, Aerobic capacity, Hormonal profile, Lipid profile, Inflammatory biomarkers, Liver enzymes, Renal function markers, Electrolytes, Muscle enzymes, Pre- and post-training measurements will be taken under standardized conditions.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 73
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Wissal Abassi, Dr; Phone Number: +21693304684; Email: wissalabassi93@gmail.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: wissal Abassi, Dr; Email: wissalabassi93@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female, aged 18-65 years
• BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²
• Pre-menopausal or post-menopausal (classified clinically)
• Voluntary written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hormonal therapy or weight-loss medications
• Endocrine diseases or chronic illness
• Recent intense physical training (<48 hours before baseline)

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

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental Group 1:Pre-menopausal; performed Zumba training, 4 × 60 min/week, 4 months	Behavioral: Zumba training; Participants assigned to the experimental groups will perform a supervised Zumba training program for 10 weeks, with 4 sessions per week, each session lasting 60 minutes. Sessions will include a standardized warm-up (10 minutes), choreographed dance-based aerobic sequences performed at moderate intensity (40 minutes), and a cool-down with stretching (10 minutes).
No Intervention: Control Group 1; No training intervention was intended for the control group.
Experimental: Experimental Group 2:Post-menopausal; performed Zumba training, 4 × 60 min/week, 4 months	Behavioral: Zumba training; Participants assigned to the experimental groups will perform a supervised Zumba training program for 10 weeks, with 4 sessions per week, each session lasting 60 minutes. Sessions will include a standardized warm-up (10 minutes), choreographed dance-based aerobic sequences performed at moderate intensity (40 minutes), and a cool-down with stretching (10 minutes).
No Intervention: Control group 2; No training intervention was intended for the control group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body Mass Index (BMI)	BMI calculated as weight (kg) divided by height squared (m²).	Baseline and after 4 months of Zumba intervention.
Body Fat Percentage	Total body fat measured by digital scale (Tanita BC-533).	Baseline and after 4 months of Zumba intervention.
Waist Circumference	Measured at the narrowest point between the rib cage and iliac crest using a tape measure.	Baseline and after 4 months of Zumba intervention.
Waist-Hip Ratio	Calculated by dividing waist circumference by hip circumference.	Baseline and after 4 months of Zumba intervention.
Hip Circumference	Measured at the widest point of the hips using a tape measure.	Baseline and after 4 months of Zumba intervention.
Prolactin	Serum prolactin concentration (ng/mL).	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Testosterone	Serum testosterone concentration (ng/dL).	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Cortisol	Serum cortisol concentration (µg/dL).	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Progesterone	Serum progesterone concentration (ng/mL).	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Estradiol	Serum estradiol concentration (pg/mL).	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)	Serum FSH concentration (mIU/mL).	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)	Serum LH concentration (mIU/mL).	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)	Serum TSH concentration (µIU/mL).	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Free Thyroxine (FT4)	Serum free T4 concentration (ng/dL).	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)	Serum PTH concentration (pg/mL).	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Total Cholesterol	Serum total cholesterol concentration (mg/dL).	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol	Serum HDL cholesterol concentration (mg/dL).	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol	Serum LDL cholesterol concentration (mg/dL).	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Triglycerides	Serum triglyceride concentration (mg/dL).	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)	Serum CRP concentration (mg/L).	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)	ESR measured in mm/hr.	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)	Includes neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils (cells/µL).	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)	Serum ALT concentration measured in U/L.	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)	Serum AST concentration measured in U/L.	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)	Serum ALP concentration measured in U/L.	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)	Serum GGT concentration measured in U/L.	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)	Serum LDH concentration measured in U/L.	Baseline and after the 4 months of the intervention.
Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)	Serum GGT concentration measured in U/L.	Baseline and after the 4 months of the intervention.
Bilirubin Total	Total serum bilirubin concentration measured in mg/dL.	Baseline and after the 4 months of the intervention.
Bilirubin Direct	Direct (conjugated) serum bilirubin concentration measured in mg/dL.	Baseline and after the 4 months of the intervention.
Creatinine	Serum creatinine concentration measured in mg/dL, indicator of kidney function.	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Urea	Serum urea concentration measured in mg/dL, indicator of kidney function.	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Uric Acid	Serum uric acid concentration measured in mg/dL, indicator of kidney function.	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Sodium (Na)	Serum sodium concentration measured in mmol/L.	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Potassium (K)	Serum potassium concentration measured in mmol/L.	Baseline and after 4 months of the intervention.
Calcium (Ca)	Serum calcium concentration measured in mg/dL.	Baseline and after 4 months of training.
Magnesium (Mg)	Serum magnesium concentration measured in mg/dL.	Baseline and after 4 months of training.
Phosphate (PO₄)	Serum phosphate concentration measured in mg/dL.	Baseline and after 4 months of training.
Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK)	Serum CPK concentration measured in U/L, indicator of muscle damage.	Baseline and after 4 months of training.
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)	Serum LDH concentration measured in U/L, indicator of muscle and tissue damage.	Baseline and after 4 months of training.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Resting Heart Rate	Measured using automated device (Omron BP652).	Baseline and after 4 months of Zumba intervention.
Blood Pressure (Systolic and Diastolic)	Measured using an automated arm cuff (Omron BP652).	Baseline and after 4 months of Zumba intervention.
6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) Distance	Distance walked in 6 minutes on a 30-meter straight corridor.	Baseline and after 4 months of Zumba intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Wissal Abassi, Research Unit "Sport Sciences, Health and Movement"(UR22JS01) High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, 7100 Kef, Tunisia.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): December 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 24, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 24, 2025
• First Posted (Estimated): December 4, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): December 4, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 24, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Obesity; Overweight; Lipid Profile; Post-menopause; Cardiometabolic Health; Pre-menopause; Zumba Training; Hormonal Adaptations
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Overweight; Obesity
• Other Study ID Numbers: HORMONE-2025

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 will be 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