Introduction: Effects of Phenotypic changes in adipose tissue due to training are a new theory. However, the cellular – molecular mechanisms for these phenotypic changes are not yet clearly understood. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and Pilates on levels of Irisin and Insulin resistance in overweight women.
Materials and Methods: This study was a Quasi-experimental research with a pre-post testing. Twenty-one overweight women, aged³ 29.55 years were divided into two groups: High intensity interval training (N=12) and Pilates (N=9) groups. The first group performed one session of Vo2max testing for 30 s (15 s the with 120 % of maximum aerobic speed and 15 s rest), while second group performed one session of Pilates. Following the second blood sampling, data analysis was performed with p values<0.05 considered significant.
Results: Results of this study show that Irisin levels increased significantly after exercise only in the HIIT group (P=0.039, t11= 2.3). Immediately after exercise insulin resistance increased and decreased respectively in the HIIT and Pilates groups, but changes were not statistically significant (P>0.05).
Conclusions: Based on the findings, levels of Irisin increase in overweight women, whereas those of insulin resistance do not.