Objectives Positive energy homeostasis due to overnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle triggers obesity. Obesity has a close relationship with elevated levels of betatrophin and may increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Therefore, lifestyle modification through a nonpharmacological approach based on physical exercise is the right strategy in lowering betatrophin levels. This study aimed to analyze the effect of moderate-intensity interval and continuous exercises on decreased betatrophin levels and the association between betatrophin levels and obesity markers in women. Methods A total of 30 women aged 20–24 years old were randomly divided into three groups. Measurement of betatrophin levels using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Data analysis techniques used were one-way ANOVA and parametric linear correlation. Results The results showed that the average levels of betatrophin pre-exercise were 200.40 ± 11.03 pg/mL at CON, 203.07 ± 42.48 pg/mL at MIE, 196.62 ± 21.29 pg/mL at MCE, and p=0.978. Average levels of betatrophin post-exercise were 226.65 ± 18.96 pg/mL at CON, 109.31 ± 11.23 pg/mL at MIE, 52.38 ± 8.18 pg/mL at MCE, and p=0.000. Pre-exercise betatrophin levels were positively correlated with age, BMI, FM, WHR, FBG, and PBF (p≤0.001). Conclusions Our study showed that betatrophin levels are decreased by 10 min post-MIE and post-MCE. However, moderate-intensity continuous exercise is more effective in lowering betatrophin levels than moderate-intensity interval exercise. In addition, pre-exercise betatrophin levels also have a positive correlation with obesity markers.

Obesity is strongly associated with the degree of inflammation characterised by proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Lifestyle modification with exercise is the right strategy because it can stimulate interleukin 6 (IL-6) secretion which acts as an anti-inflammatory. This study aimed to analyse the response of interval and continuous exercise to inflammatory markers in obese women. Twenty-four women participated in this study and were randomly divided into 3 groups: CONG (n=8, control group without any intervention): MCEG (n=8, continuous exercise group) and MIEG (n=8, interval exercise group). ELISA was used to measure the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, pre-exercise and post-exercise. The data were analysed using the paired sample t-test. The mean levels of TNF-α, pre-exercise and post-exercise, were 19.35±2.73 vs 19.36±2.23 pg/ml (P=0.989) in CONG, 19.42±2.79 vs 16.63±0.82 pg/ml (P=0.017) in MCEG, and 19.46±3.08 vs 16.96±2.11 pg/ml (P=0.079) in MIEG. Mean levels of IL-6, pre-exercise and post-exercise, were 7.56±2.88 vs 7.66±4.12 pg/ml (P=0.957) for CONG, 7.68±3.41 vs 13.97±2.38 pg/ml (P=0.001) for MCEG, and 7.78±1.99 vs 13.66±3.55 pg/ml (P=0.001) for MIEG. We concluded that interval and continuous exercise decreased pro-inflammatory and increased anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Lifestyle, unhealthy eating patterns, and low physical activity become trigger factors of obesity. Therefore, lifestyle modification with an exercise-based nonpharmacological approach is one of the strategies for combat obesity. This study aims to analyse the response of moderate-intensity interval and continuous exercise to irisin level increasing pattern on the obese female. A total of 21 obese females were enrolled in this study and given moderate-intensity interval exercise (MIIE) and moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE). ELISA was used to quantify the serum level of irisin in all samples. Statistical analysis was performed using one way-ANOVA and Tukey’s honestly significant difference (HSD) post hoc test. Mean irisin levels of pre-exercise at control (CON), MIIE, and MICE were 3.26±1.28l, 3.44±0.56 and 3.89±1.08 ng/ml, respectively (P=0.519). The mean irisin level of 10 min post-exercise was 2.99±0.86 ng/ml at CON, 4.82±1.01 ng/ml at MIIE, and 5.99±1.27 ng/ml at MICE (P=0.000). The mean irisin levels of 6 h post-exercise were 3.04±0.60, 4.56±0.87, and 5.73±1.02 ng/ml at CON, MIIE, and MICE, respectively (P=0.000). The mean irisin level of 24 h post-exercise was 3.04±0.91 ng/ml at CON, 4.64±0.69 ng/ml at MIIE, and 5.69±1.53 ng/ml at MICE (P=0.002). We conclude that the post-exercise serum irisin level increased in both MICE and MIIE subjects, and the post-exercise serum irisin level maintained higher in the MICE than in the MIIE in the obese female subjects.

The decrease in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and number of hippocampal neurons are two indicators in the decrease of memory function, cognitive, and learning function. The present study aimed to determine BDNF expression and the number of hippocampal neurons on moderate and high intensity exercise by listening to music. Design of the present study was a randomised control group post-test only design. A total of 33 male rats, Rattus norvegicus strain Wistar, aged eight weeks, with body weight 160±20 g were randomly divided into three groups: Group 1 (G1) (n=11, control group without intervention), Group 2 (G2) (n=11, performed moderate intensity exercise, treadmill 14-16 m/min for 30 min by listening to pop music with fast tempo of 160 beats/min) and Group 3 (G3) (n=11, high intensity exercise, treadmill 22-25 m/min for 20 min by listening to pop music with fast tempo of 160 beats/min). The intervention was performed between 17:00-21:00 pm, three times per week for 12 weeks. Blood and brain samples were obtained and evaluated 12 h after the end of the last exercise. BDNF serum was measured using ELISA and hippocampal neurons were stained by haematoxylin-eosin and counted using OlyVIA software. Study results showed a BDNF for G1 of 1,098.14±135.31 pg/ml, G2 of 1,113.72±65.87 pg/ml, and G3 of 1,331.56±105.35 pg/ml (P=0.001). The total number of hippocampal neurons for G1 was 54.75±6.83 cells, for G2 59.87±7.68 cells, and G3 80.58±9.79 cells (P=0.001). According to the study it can be concluded that high intensity exercise combined by listening to music with a fast tempo of 160 beats/min increases BDNF expression and the number of hippocampal neurons.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has been widely associated with structural and functional changes in the brain, whereas inflammation is one of the potential mechanisms involved in these changes. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to prove the relationship between serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and obesity predictor markers (body mass index and waist to hip ratio) and inflammation (interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha) levels in females with obesity. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional study method using 33 females with obesity aged 19-23 years, body mass index (BMI) > 27.5 kg/m2, normal blood pressure, normal resting heart rate (RHR), normal hemoglobin (Hb), and fasting blood glucose (FBG) ≤ 100 mg/dL. The examination of serum BDNF, IL-6, and TNF-α levels using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. The data were analyzed using Pearson product-moment test with a significant levels p<0.05. RESULTS: The results indicated that there is a negative correlation between serum BDNF levels and BMI (r = –0.759; p<0.001), WHR (r = –0.675; p<0.001), IL-6 levels (r = –0.530; p<0.001) and TNF-α levels (r = –0.561; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the study, there is a negative correlation between serum BDNF levels and BMI, waist to hip ratio, and inflammation (interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha) levels in females with obesity. Further studies are needed to confirm the present findings.