Comparative analysis of aerobic exercise versus resistance training on cardiovascular risk factors in prehypertensive adults

The aim of this research was to assess the comparative effects of 12 weeks of aerobic and resistance training on cardiovascular risk factors in 150 prehypertensive adults aged between 30 and 50 years in Uzbekistan. Participants were divided into three groups at random: aerobic (40 min, 3 times/week), resistance (60 min, 3 times/week), and control. Outcomes were that the aerobic group showed substantial reductions in systolic (8 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (7 mmHg), LDL (12%), triglycerides (15%), and BMI (2.1 kg/m²) whereas the resistance group showed minimal change (3 mmHg systolic, 5% LDL, and 1.3 kg/m² BMI). Additionally, the 8% increase in HDL was greater for the aerobic than the resistance (3%) group. This study highlights that aerobic exercise is a priority as it is an effective and low-cost method of reducing cardiovascular risks, especially in countries such as Uzbekistan where there is a high prevalence of hypertension.