BACKGROUND: Obesity is a threat to the health of modern urban citizens, especially women. Aerobic is an effect of exercise which rapidly is developing among urban women. This study was designed to examine the effects of light and moderate aerobic intensity on body composition and serum lipid profile in obese/overweight women living in Isfahan. METHODS: Forty-five middle-aged obese/overweight volunteer women (25 to 40 years, and body mass index (BMI) >= 25 to 30 kg/m2) were randomly assigned into three groups: (1) light aerobics (45 to 50% heart rate reserve maximum (HRRmax)), (2) moderate aerobics (70 to 75% HRRmax), (3) no exercise training (control). Training program lasted for 10 weeks and included three sessions of 60 minutes aerobics per week. The intensity of aerobics was controlled by monitoring heart rate. Body composition was measured using skin fold thickness method. Serum lipid was measured. RESULTS: Both light and moderate aerobics significantly improved weight (p < 0.000), fat percent (p < 0.045), BMI (p < 0.000), fat weight (p < 0.031), lean body weight (p < 0.02), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (p < 0.000), High-density lipoprotein (HDL) (p < 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that both light and moderate aerobics improved body composition and serum lipid profile in obese/overweight women. Our findings support the application of aerobics for obese/overweight women. Initially, they can start with light programs and proceed to more intense programs.

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