This study aims to identify the effects of exercise type on estrogen, tumor markers, immune function, antioxidant function, and physical fitness in postmenopausal obese women. The subjects were 30 post-menopausal obese women with body fat percentage higher than 30%. Participants were divided into aerobic exercise group (n=10; age, 53.70±3.37 years), resistance exercise group (n=10; age, 52.20±2.15 years), and control group (n=10; age, 52.50±2.68 years). Estrogen and growth hormone showed no significant difference in the aerobic exercise group, resistance exercise group, and control group. Tumor marker alpha-fetoprotein was increased in the aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and control groups (<0.01). The metabolic syndrome risk factor was decreased in the aerobic and resistance exercise groups, which was shown by the reduction of weight (<0.001), body fat percentage (<0.001), waist circumference (<0.05), and increase of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (<0.001). natural killer cell activity was increased in the aerobic exercise group, resistance exercise group, and control group (<0.001). Oxidative stress was decreased in the aerobic exercise group, resistance exercise group, and control group (<0.001). Maximum oxygen uptake was increased in the aerobic and resistance exercise groups, but aerobic exercise was more effective (<0.05). Knee isokinetic extensor muscle was increased in both the aerobic and resistance exercise groups (<0.001). Aerobic and resistance exercise of postmenopausal obese women can be considered an effective intervention program to prevent metabolic syndrome and improve physical fitness.
