Effect of 8 weeks of high-intensity functional training (HIFT) on previous vascular factors and exercise enjoyment in women suffering from metabolic syndrome

Introduction: Individuals with metabolic syndrome face a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to healthy individuals, attributed to endothelial dysfunction, increased blood lipids, and insulin resistance. Despite exercise being an effective prevention method for enhancing and preventing metabolic syndrome, fewer than 23% of adults perform the minimum recommended physical activity. Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental research (applied, with pre-test, and post-test), 30 women diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and a body mass index ranging from 30.9 to 33 were selected and randomly divided into two groups (control and exercise). The participants underwent an 8-week training intervention, 3 sessions per week, with progressive intensity under the supervision of a trainer. Cardio metabolic markers and body composition were evaluated at the beginning and again after 8 weeks of training. Furthermore, the questionnaire on enjoyment and motivation to continue the activity was assessed following the exercise intervention. All statistical analyses were conducted at a significance level of 0.05 using SPSS software version 21. Results: The findings indicated that 8 weeks of HIFT training led to a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, LDL, HDL, and fasting blood sugar (P=0.05). Significant changes were observed in body composition and perceived enjoyment of physical activity (P=0.05). Conclusion: HIFT exercises lead to significant clinical improvements in the cardiovascular risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome and body composition while allowing participants to enjoy their activities and minimizing obstacles to engaging in sports. Therefore, it is recommended that sports specialists and medical doctors utilized this type of exercise as a method for the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome.