The Effect of Regular Mountaineering Training on Lipid Profile and Anthropometric Indices in Obese Male Students

Introduction: metabolic disorders (۱). Dyslipidemia, characterized by elevated triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL), is a key metabolic abnormality contributing to atherosclerosis in obese individuals. Regular aerobic exercise is widely recognized as an effective non-pharmacological intervention to improve lipid metabolism through enhanced lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, improved insulin sensitivity, fatty acid oxidation, and regulation of signaling pathways such as AMPK and PPARa (۲,۳). Evidence from clinical trials and meta-analyses indicates that aerobic training produces greater reductions in TG and LDL and increases in HDL compared with resistance or combined training (۴,۵). Additional findings suggest that aerobic exercise, particularly when combined with dietary interventions or performed in the fasted state, further augments metabolic adaptations (۶,۷). Mountaineering, as a prolonged, intermittent aerobic activity engaging large muscle groups, may offer unique benefits for lipid regulation. However, limited evidence exists regarding its effects in young obese men. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the impact of regular mountaineering training on lipid profile and anthropometric indices in this population. Methodology: This quasi-experimental study employed a one-group pretest-posttest design and was conducted on ۱۴ obese male students aged ۲۰-۳۰ years (BMI > ۳۰). Eligible participants were screened for general health status, absence of chronic diseases, non-use of lipid metabolism-affecting medications, and provision of written informed consent. The exercise protocol consisted of six weeks of hiking, performed three times per week (a total of ۱۸ sessions), with each session lasting approximately ۴ hours at an intensity of ۶۰-۷۰% of maximum heart rate (HRmax). Each session included a ۱۰-minute warm-up, a ~۱۰ km round-trip hike, and a ۱۰-minute cool-down. Exercise intensity was monitored using a Polar heart rate monitor, and all sessions were conducted between ۱۶:۰۰ and ۲۰:۰۰ hours. Outcome variables were measured at baseline and after the intervention following a ۱۲-hour overnight fast. The assessed variables included triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), waist circumference (WC), and body mass index (BMI). Measurement tools included a standard sphygmomanometer and stadiometer, a digital scale, a measuring tape, and laboratory assay kits for blood lipids. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests to compare pre- and post-intervention values, with statistical significance set at p < ۰.۰۵. Analyses were performed using SPSS software, version ۲۶. Results The baseline characteristics of participants are presented in Table ۱. The mean age and height of the subjects were ۲۵.۹ ± ۲.۴۹ years and ۱۷۹.۴۳ ± ۵.۳۹ cm, respectively, with a total sample size of ۱۴ obese male students (BMI > ۳۰). After six weeks of moderate-intensity hiking training, significant improvements were observed in both lipid profile and anthropometric indices. Specifically, serum triglycerides (TG) decreased significantly (p < ۰.۰۰۱), along with total cholesterol (TC; p < ۰.۰۰۱), low- density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL; p < ۰.۰۰۱), waist circumference (WC; p < ۰.۰۰۱), and body mass index (BMI; p < ۰.۰۰۱). Conversely, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) increased significantly following the intervention (p < ۰.۰۰۱). The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the measured variables in the pre- and post-test phases are presented in Table ۱, and graphical comparisons of these variables are illustrated in Figure ۱. Results of paired-sample t-tests confirming significant pre- to post-training differences are summarized in Table ۲. Table ۱. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) of lipid profile and anthropometric indices before and after the ۶-week hiking intervention (n = ۱۴). Variable Pre-test (Mean ± SD) Post-test (Mean ± SD) Triglycerides (mg/dl) ۱۵۱.۰۱ ± ۲۵.۳۹ ۱۲۲.۷۸ ± ۱۶.۲۲ Total cholesterol (mg/dl) ۱۷۲.۵۷ ± ۱۴.۶۵ ۱۵۰.۲۱ ± ۱۶.۷۱ HDL (mg/dl) ۴۶.۴۲ ± ۲.۵۶ ۵۰.۵۷ ± ۴.۰۸ LDL (mg/dl) ۷۳.۰۳ ± ۱۶.۰۱ ۵۴.۴۲ ± ۱۳.۲۷ Waist circumference (cm) ۱۰۶.۹۲ ± ۴.۴۱ ۱۰۱.۱۴ ± ۵.۰۳ Body mass (kg) ۱۱۱.۷۸ ± ۹.۵۱ ۱۰۵.۵۷ ± ۸.۱۳ Figure ۱. Mean values of study variables before and after the training intervention. Table ۲. Results of paired t-test comparing pre-test and post-test values Variable Paired t p-value Statistical outcome Triglycerides ۶.۹۳ < ۰.۰۵ Significant decrease Total cholesterol ۸.۳۰ < ۰.۰۵ Significant decrease HDL ۵.۸۳ < ۰.۰۵ Significant increase LDL ۶.۳۴ < ۰.۰۵ Significant decrease Waist circumference ۷.۷۹ < ۰.۰۵ Significant decrease Body mass ۷.۶۴ < ۰.۰۵ Significant decrease According to the results of the paired t-test, six weeks of regular mountaineering training led to a significant reduction in serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, waist circumference, and body mass, as well as a significant increase in HDL levels among the participants (all p < ۰.۰۵). Discussion Obesity is associated with dyslipidemia, visceral adiposity, and impaired metabolic health. This study examined the effects of six weeks of moderate-intensity (۶۰-۷۰% HRmax) mountaineering on lipid profiles and anthropometric indices in obese men aged ۲۰-۳۰ years. Fourteen participants completed a structured mountaineering program. Pre- and post-intervention measurements included triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL- C), waist circumference, and body fat mass. The intervention significantly reduced TG, TC, LDL-C, waist circumference, and body fat mass, while increasing HDL-C. These improvements are likely mediated by enhanced lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity, activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR) pathways, reduction of visceral fat, decreased inflammatory markers (TNF-a, IL-۶), and increased adiponectin. Collectively, these adaptations improve insulin sensitivity and lipid homeostasis. The results align with prior aerobic exercise studies, and the pronounced effects of mountaineering may stem from its combined muscular engagement and high energy expenditure. Despite limitations, including small sample size and lack of dietary control, this study suggests that mountaineering is a practical, effective, and safe strategy for improving lipid metabolism and overall metabolic health in young obese men.

کلیدواژه ها:

Mountaineering ، Obesity ، Serum Lipids ، HDL ، LDL ، Triglycerides ، Aerobic Exercise