Effects of a concurrent training program on metabolic response, functionality, and quality of life in overweight or obese adults in primary healthcare

Introduction: Overweight/obesity is a global and national public health problem associated with cardiometabolic risk, functional limitation, and reduced health-related quality of life. Pragmatic evidence from primary healthcare (PHC) programs remains limited. Objective: To evaluate whether a 12-week concurrent training program delivered in PHC was associated with pre-post changes in cardiometabolic profile, functional performance, SF-36 total score, and serum IL-6 in adults with overweight/obesity. Methodology: Quasi-experimental single-group pre-post study in two CESFAMs (La Cisterna, Chile). Adults 18-60 years with BMI >25 kg/m² attended three sessions/week (planned aerobic and strength components) plus educational support and non-standardized nutritional counseling. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and week 12. Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank tests were used, and effect sizes were estimated using r and rank-biserial correlation. Results: Forty participants completed assessments (estimated VO₂max n=18). Weight and BMI remained stable. Favorable pre-post changes were observed in HOMA-IR, HbA1c, triglycerides, VLDL, functional performance, 6MWT distance, estimated VO₂max, SF-36 total score, and IL-6. Total cholesterol increased modestly and should therefore be interpreted cautiously. Functional outcomes showed the largest effect sizes. Discussion: In a real-world PHC context, favorable cardiometabolic, functional, and person-centered changes may occur without marked weight loss; however, given the single-group pre-post design, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary and non-causal. Conclusions: A 12-week concurrent training program implemented in CESFAM was associated with favorable pre-post changes in insulin resistance, selected lipid fractions, function, quality of life, and IL-6. Controlled pragmatic studies are needed to confirm causality and implementation potential.