Can walking more help middle-aged women feel healthier?
Effects of 8 weeks of moderate physical training on body composition, lipid profile, inflammatory markers, and physical activity in middle aged females
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
HDL cholesterol decreased by 15.0% despite reductions in LDL and total cholesterol.
Decades of research show aerobic exercise typically raises HDL—this study flips that, suggesting age or hormonal factors may reverse the benefit.
Practical Takeaways
Combine moderate cardio with 2–3 days of resistance training per week to preserve muscle mass and support HDL levels.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
HDL cholesterol decreased by 15.0% despite reductions in LDL and total cholesterol.
Decades of research show aerobic exercise typically raises HDL—this study flips that, suggesting age or hormonal factors may reverse the benefit.
Practical Takeaways
Combine moderate cardio with 2–3 days of resistance training per week to preserve muscle mass and support HDL levels.
Publication
Journal
Frontiers in Endocrinology
Year
2026
Authors
Maha Sellami, Shamma Almuraikhy, N. Anwardeen, P. Nizamuddin, Haitam Othman, Noora Alathba, Noor Alareer, Mohamed A. Elrayess
Related Content
Claims (6)
Regular aerobic exercise, such as running or cycling, is associated with lower levels of cholesterol in the blood.
In women aged 30 to 60, doing moderate aerobic exercise for 8 weeks is linked to small improvements in several blood markers related to heart health and inflammation, even when body weight and fat mass remain unchanged.
In middle-aged women, regular moderate aerobic exercise is linked to a 10.5% increase in superoxide dismutase activity, a protein that neutralizes superoxide radicals, while catalase activity remains unchanged.
In middle-aged women, regular moderate aerobic exercise is linked to a 15% drop in HDL cholesterol, even though other cholesterol levels go down. This pattern may reflect a lipid profile change that is not clearly beneficial and could be affected by factors like diet or hormones.
Middle-aged women who engage in moderate aerobic exercise tend to spend more time in moderate-intensity physical activity and have higher overall energy expenditure per week, but their walking and high-intensity activity levels remain unchanged.