Harder interval walking produced larger estimated increases in plasma, the liquid part of blood
Calculated plasma-volume variation estimates change in the amount of blood’s liquid part. It increased more with high-intensity interval walking than with moderate-intensity walking or control.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Among postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity, higher-intensity interval walking produced a larger increase in calculated plasma-volume variation than moderate-intensity walking or control. Both walking groups lost weight and body fat. These results do not establish that higher intensity was better across all outcomes or that the blood-volume estimate represents a lasting health benefit.
This abstract-based explanation cannot assess the full methods. No effect size or confidence interval is supplied for the plasma-volume difference, and most other results describe changes within individual groups.
What researchers found
Calculated plasma-volume variation
After 10 weeks, higher-intensity walking exceeded moderate-intensity walking (p = 0.018) and control (p < 0.001). Difference sizes were not reported.
What the study assessed
Researchers calculated plasma-volume changes and assessed body composition, blood measurements, markers associated with muscle damage and walking-test performance. The clearest reported difference between walking intensities concerned the estimated change in blood’s liquid volume.
Other outcomes need care
Both walking groups had statistically significant reductions in body mass, body fat and waist circumference. Improved walking-test performance was statistically significant only in the higher-intensity group; the abstract does not give a direct between-intensity estimate for that outcome.
The original publication
A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing High- and Moderate-Intensity Interval Walking on Hematological and Functional Markers in Postmenopausal Women with Obesity.
Abassi W, Ouerghi N, Jabbour G et al.
Sports (Basel) · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 42043081
- Record checked
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