The effect of concurrent endurance and resistance training on selected physical fitness indices and quality of life in patients with beta thalassemia major

Introduction: Aging and obesity are associated with metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunctions, partly due to impaired adipokine regulation and insulin sensitivity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of combined exercise on adiponectin expression and selected metabolic indices related to cardiovascular health and blood glucose control in elderly obese men. Material & Methods: This quasi-experimental study with a pre-test–post-test design included 40 obese elderly men (mean age: 61.90 ± 2.84 years; BMI: 31.01 ± 1.53 kg/m²), who were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 20) and control (n = 20) groups. The experimental group participated in a combined exercise program (aerobic and resistance) for 16 weeks, three sessions per week, each lasting 90 minutes. Blood samples were collected 48 hours before and after the intervention to assess levels of adiponectin, insulin, HbA1c, cholesterol, and HDL. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 through paired t-tests and ANCOVA. Results: The results demonstrated that combined exercise significantly increased adiponectin levels (P= 0.0001). The experimental group showed notable improvements in the adiponectin-to-insulin ratio (P= 0.0001) and the total cholesterol-to-HDL cholesterol ratio (P= 0.04), along with a reduction in HbA1c levels (P= 0.01). No significant changes were observed in the control group. Conclusion: The findings suggest that combined exercise significantly increased adiponectin levels and improved metabolic markers, including the adiponectin-to-insulin and total-to-HDL cholesterol ratios. HbA1c levels also decreased, indicating better glycemic control.