Effects of a 12-Week Zumba Training Program on Estimated Aerobic Capacity and Exploratory Hematological and Inflammatory Outcomes in Overweight/Obese Postmenopausal Women: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

This pilot randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of a 12-week Zumba training program on estimated aerobic capacity in overweight/obese postmenopausal women, while hematological and inflammatory outcomes were explored. Thirty overweight/obese postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to a Zumba group (ZG, n = 15) or a control group (CG, n = 15). Eight participants withdrew, and 22 completers (11/group) completed the study and were included in the per-protocol analysis. The ZG completed supervised 60 min sessions three times weekly for 12 weeks, whereas the CG maintained its usual lifestyle habits. Estimated maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), maximal aerobic speed (MAS), hematological parameters, and inflammatory biomarkers were assessed before and after the intervention. Intervention effects were assessed using baseline-adjusted analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Estimated VO2max was higher in the ZG than CG at follow-up (adjusted difference: 3.59 mL·kg−1·min−1; partial eta squared (ηp2) = 0.683). Exploratory differences were observed for mean platelet volume (0.701 fL; ηp2 = 0.400) and neutrophils (0.961 × 103/μL; ηp2 = 0.287), whereas no clear effects were identified for other hematological outcomes. Neither C-reactive protein nor erythrocyte sedimentation rate showed a clear effect. Zumba may improve estimated aerobic capacity, while the hematological findings remain exploratory and hypothesis-generating.