Pages: 7-13

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a Tai Chi exercise on some of the ‎inflammatory indicators of obese and lean middle-aged women. Methodology: the ‎research sample included 40 non-athlete middle-aged women, including 20 obese and ‎‎20 lean, in Bardsir city. The subjects were purposefully selected and obese women ‎were randomly divided into exercise obese (10 subjects) and control obese (10 ‎subjects) groups and lean subjects were randomly divided into exercise lean (10 ‎subjects) and control lean (10 subjects) groups.First, written consent was taken from ‎subjects. Then, medical questionnaire were completed. Then, physical dimensions ‎including height, weight and body mass index were measured and recorded. Then, ‎‎10ml blood sample was taken from anterior vein of the subjects at rest and fasting ‎status and IL-6 and plasma C-reactive protein were measured and recorded. Then, ‎obese and lean experimental groups participated in the Tai Chi exercises for 12 weeks, ‎‎3 sessions per weeks, and lasted 60 minutes per session. These exercises were ‎performed in the form of principle of overload. Then, at the end of 12 weeks and 24 ‎hours after the last exercise session, all variables, similar to the pre-test, were ‎measured and recorded.  Data were analyzed by paired t-test and independent t-test. ‎Results: This study showed a significant reduction in body mass index and IL-6 and C-‎reactive protein in exercise obese group compared to control obese group and exercise ‎lean group. Conclusion: Finally, this study showed that a 12-week Tai Chi exercise can ‎be beneficial in reducing the levels of BMI, IL-6, and C-reactive protein in obese ‎middle-aged women‎.