Abstract
Background and Aim: Considering the prevalence of overweight and increased oxidative stress as one of its main adverse consequences, the present study aimed to determine the effect of 12 weeks of combined exercise training with different energy expenditure on some oxidative stress indices in overweight women. Materials and Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental research with a pre-test–post-test design. The participants were 27 overweight women who were randomly assigned to three groups: high-caloric expenditure exercise (HCE), standard-caloric expenditure exercise (SCE), and control (CON). The HCE group performed exercises with an energy expenditure of 1200–1500 kcal (at 50–65% VO2max) in the first week, which increased to 3000–3500 kcal (at 50–75% VO2max) by the final week. The SCE group trained with an energy expenditure of 900–1200 kcal (at 60–70% VO2max) in the first week and 1200–1500 kcal (at 60–75% VO2max) in the final week. The biomarkers total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assessed. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA (2×3) at a significance level of p≤0.05. Results: No significant differences were found between the groups in TAC (p=0.222), GPX (p=0.145), SOD (p=0.264), and MDA (p=0.621). Additionally, there were no significant within-group changes in TAC (p=0.514), GPX (p=0.277), and SOD (p=0.921) from pre-test to post-test. However, a significant decrease in MDA was observed only in the SCE group between the first and second measurement stages (p=0.043). Conclusion: Based on the results, high-energy expenditure exercise (above 3000 kcal per week) does not appear to have significant oxidative stress-related drawbacks after 12 weeks, allowing individuals to benefit from its positive effects. Additionally, the reduction in MDA suggests a potential advantage of standard-energy expenditure exercise.