The Effect of Aerobic Training and Green Tea Supplementation on Cardio Metabolic Risk Factors in Overweight and Obese Females: A Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND: The use of exercise along with green tea supplements has been shown to have beneficial effects on obesity and its complications. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at exploring the effect of aerobic training (AT) and green tea (GT) supplementation on body composition, blood lipids, blood glucose, and cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese females. METHODS: Thirty-nine healthy non-athlete overweight and obese females with an average age of 28.11 ± 6.50 years were sampled and randomly assigned to control (n = 13), AT (n = 13), and AT + GT (n = 13). Participants of the latter group received 33 mg of green tea after each main meal every day, and in addition, they were subjected to AT for eight weeks, including three 90-minute training sessions that were progressive, reaching 80% of the target heart rate (THR). Blood samples were taken from participants one week before the initiation of the study and 48 hours after the last training session. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, body weight, body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, blood pressure, and heart rate (HR) significantly decreased in the groups treated with AT and AT + GT (P < 0.05). However, no significant changes occurred in FBS, HDL, TC, and WHR (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: AT was effective in modifying cardiovascular risk factors, e.g. hypertension, heart rate (HR), triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). However, GT addition was not effective. Considering Iranians’ high tendency towards the consumption of plant materials, this finding needs further investigation.