Effects of 10 weeks of walking-based exercise training on resting substrate oxidation in postmenopausal women with obesity

Accumulating evidence supports the effectiveness of moderate-intensity aerobic training on metabolic health, with limited studies investigating change in resting substrate oxidation. The aim of this study was to explore whether 10 weeks of walking-based aerobic training would alter substrate oxidation in postmenopausal women with obesity.

Twenty-four postmenopausal women with obesity who were assigned into the control (n = 12) or exercise groups (n = 12) undertook a 10-week aerobic training program (3 d·week⁻¹) that involved walking exercises at 50–70% of heart rate reserve on a treadmill, with exercise volume increased from 25 to 40 min·day⁻¹. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and body composition were measured pre- and post-training. Whole-body substrate oxidation was calculated using respiratory data collected during RMR measurement via indirect calorimetry. No significant change was noted (p > 0.05) in resting fat oxidation and carbohydrate oxidation in the exercise group. Resting respiratory exchange ratio and RMR did not alter in response to the training program (p > 0.05).

Our results show that a 10-week of moderate-intensity aerobic training does not modify substrate oxidation in postmenopausal women with obesity.