Effects of 12-week supervised combined aerobic and resistance training on body composition and physical function in overweight or obese adults with multiple cardiometabolic risk factors: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Combined aerobic and resistance training is recommended for adults with cardiometabolic risk factors, but evidence from hospital-based integrated sports and health service settings remains limited. OBJECTIVE: This 12-week randomized trial evaluated the effects of supervised combined aerobic and resistance training on body composition and physical function in overweight or obese adults with multiple cardiometabolic risk factors. METHODS: Adults with overweight or obesity and at least one additional clinically diagnosed cardiometabolic risk factor were randomized in a planned 2:1 ratio to intervention or control using a computer-generated stratified permuted-block sequence with allocation concealment. The intervention group completed supervised exercise three times weekly for 12 weeks. Each 60 min session included warm-up, aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and flexibility/cool-down, with intensity monitored using heart rate, heart-rate reserve, perceived exertion, symptoms, and tolerance. Controls maintained usual lifestyle and dietary habits and received weekly telephone follow-up. Co-primary outcomes were whole-body fat mass and handgrip strength. Baseline-adjusted linear mixed-effects models estimated week 12 between-group differences. RESULTS: Of 60 individuals screened, 52 were randomized, and all completed week 12 assessment. At week 12, the intervention group had greater reductions in whole-body fat mass than controls (adjusted difference, -1.48 kg; 95% CI, -1.85 to -1.11; Holm-adjusted P < 0.001) and greater improvement in handgrip strength (1.16 kg; 95% CI, 0.56 to 1.77; Holm-adjusted P < 0.001). Exploratory secondary analyses with unadjusted P values suggested improvements in body weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, trunk fat mass, lower-limb explosive power, 4-m gait speed, one-leg standing balance, and sit-and-reach flexibility. Trunk muscle mass and whole-body response time were not statistically significant. Mean attendance was 86.7%, with no serious adverse events. CONCLUSION: In this single-center randomized trial, 12-week supervised combined aerobic and resistance training was associated with modest improvements in fat-related body composition and selected physical-function outcomes in overweight or obese adults with multiple cardiometabolic risk factors. Cardiometabolic biomarkers were not reassessed at follow-up, and findings should be interpreted as preliminary.