Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare physical fitness (maximum oxygen consumption, endurance, power, agility and flexibility) and lipid profile (triglycerides, cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein-VLDL, low-density lipoprotein-LDL and High-density lipoproteins-HDL) in middle-aged women being active and inactive.
Methodology: 40 women volunteers aged 40-60 years were divided in two groups, active (n = 20) and inactive (20). Subjects of the active group were continued for physical activity in past 10 years at least; one to three times a week and inactive subjects did not exercise. Data analysis was performed using the t-test. The significance level was considered of α=0.05.
Results: The results showed a statistically significant difference between the values of maximum oxygen consumption (P=0.001), abdominal muscle endurance (P=0.024), agility (P=0.016), triglycerides (P=0.034) , low density lipoproteins (P=0.002) and high-density lipoprotein (P=0.005) the two groups, but no statistically significant difference between the values of the muscles of the legs power (P=0.251), flexibility (P=0.851), cholesterol (P=0.812) and very low density lipoprotein (P=0.569) in both groups.
Discussion: It seems that having no significant difference in lipid profile in two groups is induced due to high-fat and high-calorie diet in the active group compared with the low-calorie low-fat diet inactive. So, having at least one session of physical activity in week leads to dramatic increase in fitness and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.