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Effects of a 16-Week Green Exercise Program on Body Composition, Sleep, and Nature Connection in Postmenopausal Women
Helena Moreira1,2,3, Chiara Tuccella4,5, Emília Alves6,7
1Department of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
Summary
A 16-week outdoor exercise program significantly reduced body fat and visceral fat levels in postmenopausal women. However, it did not improve sleep duration, quality, or connection with nature.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Public Health
- Gerontology
Background:
- Physical activity in natural settings offers health benefits, particularly for postmenopausal women.
- Research on exercise interventions for this demographic is limited.
- Understanding the impact on body composition and sleep is crucial for this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a multicomponent outdoor exercise program's effects on postmenopausal women.
- To assess changes in body composition, sleep parameters, and connection with nature.
- To determine the efficacy of a 16-week intervention.
Main Methods:
- A 16-week multicomponent outdoor exercise program (cardiorespiratory, strength, balance, coordination, flexibility).
- Three 60-minute sessions per week for the experimental group (n=55).
- Comparison with a control group (n=20), with measurements at baseline and post-intervention.
Main Results:
- Significant reductions in body mass (-9.26%) and fat mass (-9.26%) in the experimental group compared to controls.
- Significant decreases in visceral fat level (-13.46 points) in the experimental group.
- No significant improvements in sleep duration, sleep quality, or connection with nature were observed.
Conclusions:
- The outdoor exercise program effectively reduced adiposity in postmenopausal women.
- The intervention did not enhance sleep duration, quality, or nature connection.
- Further research is needed to optimize exercise programs for comprehensive health benefits in this group.
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