Women's Health Issues · Apr 21, 2026

Exercise-Induced Improvements in Renal and Inflammatory Markers in Postmenopausal Women With Obesity: A Randomized Study

By Abassi W, Ouerghi N, Muscella A et al.

BACKGROUND: The convergence of obesity and postmenopausal status is likely associated with renal function decline. Because exercise improves kidney function, this study assessed kidney markers and different types of white blood cells (WBCs) that indicate kidney function in postmenopausal women with obesity after a 10-week moderate-intensity interval walking training (MIIWT). METHODS: The MIIWT consisted of five repetitions of walking for 6 minutes at 60-80% of the participant's own 6-minute walk (6MWT) test pace with 6-minutes active recovery between repetitions. Thirty-six postmenopausal women with obesity were randomized to the MIIWT group (n = 18) or control group (n = 18). Body composition, kidney function markers (serum creatinine [sCr], blood urea nitrogen [BUN], serum uric acid, and glomerular filtration rate), and WBC subpopulations (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils) were assessed before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Significant group × time interactions were observed for body mass (BM), body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (%BF), waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), 6MWT distance, sCr, BUN, WBCs, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes (all p ≤ .05). Post hoc analyses indicated that MIIWT induced modest reductions in BM (p < .001, d = .20), BMI (p < .001, d = .17), %BF (p = .001, d = .23), and WHR (p = .021, d = .47), with more pronounced decreases in waist (p < .001, d = .68) and hip circumference (p = .005, d = .32). MIIWT also significantly reduced sCr (p = .013), BUN (p = .005), WBCs (p < .001), neutrophils (p = .016), lymphocytes (p = .014), and monocytes (p = .037). CONCLUSIONS: MIIWT produced modest improvements in overall body composition and significant reductions in central adiposity, along with favorable changes in kidney function and systemic inflammation markers in postmenopausal women with obesity. These findings support the feasibility of MIIWT and provide preliminary evidence to inform larger, longer-term trials aimed at preventing kidney function decline in this high-risk population. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT06905236.

doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2026.03.006PubMed 42020262Interventions