Abstract
Aim: The prevalence of obesity and increased fat accumulation in the abdominal and chest regions among women is rising, which may negatively impact female fertility. This study aimed to examine whether specific exercise programs, combined with ginger supplementation, could effectively reduce localized fat deposits and improve hormonal balance.
Method: A total of 30 obese female university students (aged 20–28 years) voluntarily participated in this study and were randomly assigned to either the exercise-only group or the exercise + ginger supplementation group. The exercise group performed selected exercises three times per week for four weeks, while the exercise + supplementation group followed the same training protocol but also consumed ginger supplements three times per week for four weeks. Waist circumference, chest circumference, and blood hormone levels, including estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), were measured before and after the intervention.
Results: selected exercise significantly reduced chest (p=0.001) and waist circumference (p=0.001) while significantly increasing estradiol (p=0.010), progesterone (p=0.030), and FSH (p=0.001). Moreover, the combination of exercise and ginger supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in chest (p=0.013) and waist circumference (p=0.001), along with a significant increase in estradiol (p=0.033), progesterone (p=0.001), and FSH (p=0.001), while LH levels significantly decreased (p=0.098).
Conclusion: selected exercises, both alone and in combination with ginger supplementation, can effectively reduce localized fat accumulation and improve body composition in obese women. Additionally, the observed changes in hormonal levels indicate that this intervention may have a positive impact on hormonal balance in this population.