Impact of Brisk Walking Alone Versus Combined with Yoga on Cardiovascular Risk Indices in Postmenopausal Women:...

Menopause significantly impacts cardiovascular risk factors, the leading cause of mortality in women experiencing menopause. The present study examined the effects of combined exercise modalities on nontraditional lipid ratios in menopausal women. A total of 139 women were randomized into two groups-brisk walking with yoga or brisk walking alone-for a 3-month intervention. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, including lipid indices, were assessed before and after the intervention. Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. ANCOVA with repeated measures showed that the brisk walking with yoga group achieved greater improvements than brisk walking alone in BMI (-1.0 kg/m2, p = 0.001), waist circumference (-5.3 cm, p = 0.003), and hip circumference (-4.8 cm, p < 0.001). There was a significant group × time interaction for diastolic blood pressure (-8.3 mmHg, p < 0.001) and in total cholesterol (-25.1 mg/dL, p < 0.001), triglycerides (-36.6 mg/dL, p < 0.001), LDL cholesterol (-22.2 mg/dL, p < 0.001), and non-HDL cholesterol (-31.2 mg/dL, p < 0.001). The cardiovascular risk indices CRI-I (-1.06, p < 0.001), CRI-II (-0.77, p < 0.001), and AC (-1.06, p < 0.001) showed significantly greater improvements in the brisk walking with yoga group, while HDL cholesterol increased significantly only in this group (+6.1 mg/dL, p < 0.001). The combined exercise group participants showed better satisfaction compared to brisk walking alone, suggesting that integrating yoga may be more efficacious, acceptable, and feasible, potentially improving midlife health and long-term outcomes. Our results underscore the importance of lipid ratios in predicting cardiovascular disease risk in women experiencing menopause and advocate for yoga's inclusion in exercise routines. Further research incorporating longer intervention periods and larger sample sizes is warranted to comprehensively establish the long-term cardiovascular benefits of combined exercise in women experiencing menopause.