This study examined the effect of three training intensities on abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Forty-three young obese women (age 20-30 years; body mass index 30-40 kg/m2) underwent 12 weeks of walking programs (i.e., 5 days/week). They were randomly assigned to one of four groups: low-intensity training group [G1, 50 % of heart rate reserve (HRR), n = 11], high-intensity training group (G2, 75 % of HRR, n = 10), alternated-intensity training group (G3, 50-75 % of HRR, n = 12), and control group (G0, n = 10). They were tested before (T0) and after (T1) 12 weeks of aerobic training to determine changes in body mass, body mass index (BMI), total fat, waist circumference (WC), leptin, HOMA-IR, glucose and CRP. Body mass, BMI, total fat, and WC were significantly lower at T1 than T0 (p < 0.001) in all training groups. However, the decrease was higher in G2 than G1 and G3. Leptin levels decreased significantly in G1, G2, and G3 (p < 0.05). Only G1 showed significant decreases in CRP levels (p < 0.05). Insulin, HOMA-IR, and glucose levels decreased in the three training groups with higher decrease in G1. The low-intensity training is more effective than the high-intensity training or alternated-intensity training for improving insulin sensitivity and reducing subclinical inflammation. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Italia.
