Endothelial dysfunction is associated with childhood obesity and is closely linked to the amount and function of endothelial progenitor cells. However, it remains unclear whether endothelial progenitor cells increase with after-school exercise in overweight and obese children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an after-school exercise programme on endothelial cell function in overweight and obese children.

Regular exercise has been proven to prevent hypertension and to help in the management of hypertension. There is a lack of studies examining changes in these issues as a result of Taekwondo training intervention. The aim of the current trial is to identify the effects of a regular Taekwondo (TKD) training program on health-related physical fitness (HRPF), cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, inflammatory factors, and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) in elderly women with hypertension. To accomplish this, 20 participants, who were older women with hypertension, were divided into a TKD group (n = 10) and a control group (n = 10). The TKD program was conducted in program for 90 min, three times a week, for 12 weeks. Outcomes, including body composition, blood pressure (BP), HRPF, cardiovascular risk factor and EAT, were measured before and after the Taekwondo program. The 12-week TKD program improved body composition, BP, HRPF, CVD risk factor, and EAT in elderly women with hypertension relative to controls. Meanwhile, EAT and interukin-1β (r = 0.530, p < 0.05), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (r = 0.524, p < 0.05), triglyceride (r = 0.493, p < 0.05) and sedentary behavior (r = 0.459, p < 0.05) presented a positive correlation, while EAT and lean body mass (r = −0.453, p < 0.05) showed a negative correlation. The 12-week regular TKD training intervention was found to be effective in reducing the thickness of EAT measured by multi-detector computed tomography and can also enhance health-related physical fitness and risk factors of CVD in older individuals with hypertension.

The purpose of this research is to identify the correlations between functional fitness enhancement through a long-term Taekwondo training program and the physical characteristics and risk factors of dementia among elderly women with depression. The study has found that conducting three 60-min Taekwondo training sessions a week for the duration of 12 weeks has enhanced a number of functional fitness indexes, including hand grip strength/weight (p < 0.01), 4-m gait speed (p < 0.001), 3-m timed up and go (p < 0.05), and figure-of-eight track (p < 0.05), and significantly improved general health condition indexes as well, including percent fat (p < 0.05), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (p < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (p < 0.01), and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the arteriosclerosis index and cognitive function have been found to be improved with an increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF; which prevents dementia) and a significant decrease of β-amyloid—a risk factor of dementia—as a result of enhancements in serum lipids and adiponectin, confirming the positive effects of functional fitness enhancement on fighting depression, promoting physical characteristics, and reducing the risk factors of dementia.

Background: Sedentary lifestyles in older individuals are associated with reduced physical function and an increased risk of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Physical exercise can enhance muscle mass, insulin sensitivity, and metabolic health. Taekwondo, a martial art that integrates both aerobic and resistance components, may improve strength, balance, and metabolic health in older individuals. This study investigated the effect of long-term Taekwondo training on thigh muscle cross-sectional area, health related physical fitness, and metabolic indicators in sedentary older women.Methods: Seventeen participants (aged 65 years and older, sedentary time 8 h and more per day) were randomly assigned to a Taekwondo group (n = 9) and a control group (n = 8). Outcomes, including thigh muscle cross-sectional area, health-related physical fitness, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) were measured before and after the Taekwondo program. The Taekwondo group underwent 60 min of training, three times per week for 12 weeks. Variable changes over time and between groups were analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA performed for significant interactions.Results: The Taekwondo group exhibited a significant reduction in body weight, body mass index, body fat, and mean arterial blood pressure (p < 0.05), as well as increased thigh muscle cross-sectional area, lean body mass and lower limb muscle mass (p < 0.05). Improvements in balance and gait speed, stride were observed (p < 0.05), indicating reduced fall risk and enhanced mobility. Laboratory analyses revealed reduced triglyceride and free fatty acids and elevated HDL-cholesterol and GLP-1 levels (p < 0.05). Increased thigh muscle cross-sectional area was inversely correlated with fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR, suggesting improved insulin sensitivity and glucose regulation.Conclusion: Long-term Taekwondo training improved thigh muscle cross-sectional area, health-related physical fitness and insulin resistance markers in sedentary older women, providing evidence for its use as an effective intervention to promote metabolic health in this population.