Effects of a combined training program on lipid metabolism metabolic syndrome and physical fitness in perimenopausal Chinese female teachers

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), which affects over 24% of Chinese adults [4], poses a particular risk to sedentary occupations such as university faculty. This single-arm pilot study investigated the effects of a combined aerobic and resistance exercise intervention on lipid metabolism, MetS components, and physical fitness in perimenopausal female academics. A total of 101 women aged 43-49 years, classified according to IDF criteria into asymptomatic (n = 19), MetS (n = 50), and metabolic disease (n = 32) groups, participated in a 12-week supervised program. The intervention consisted of progressive resistance training twice weekly and aerobic walking three times weekly. Primary outcomes included health-related fitness, lipid profiles, and MetS components. Significant improvements were observed across all domains (all p < 0.001). The metabolic disease group demonstrated the greatest gains in muscular strength (+ 9.5%) and endurance (+ 35.4%). Triglyceride levels decreased by 9.3% in the MetS group and 10.0% in the metabolic disease group (both p < 0.05). Overall, fasting glucose declined by 5.2% (from 5.37 ± 0.54 to 5.09 ± 0.48 mmol/L, p < 0.001). The prevalence of MetS decreased by 18.8%, accompanied by a 17.8% increase in asymptomatic cases. A structured combined exercise program significantly improved lipid metabolism and reduced MetS prevalence, supporting its potential as a non-pharmacological strategy for metabolic health management in high-risk sedentary occupational groups.