Postmenopausal women were separated into two groups: one participating in a 12-week fitness walking programe as the fitness walking group, and the other maintaining their regular lifestyle as the control group. The study evaluated alterations in health markers and examined the correlation between metabolic syndrome risk factors and sex hormone levels before and after the intervention.

According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, our study invlved postmenopausal women aged from 50 to 69 years old. After the selection process, baseline assessments were conducted, including evaluations of metabolic syndrome risk factors, body morphology measurements, sex hormone levels, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Participants were then randomly assigned to either the fitness walking group or the control group using a random number table. Participants in the fitness walking group completed a 12-week fitness walking program, while those in the control group maintained their usual lifestyle without any intervention. During the post-intervention assessment, all baseline measurements were repeated to evaluate changes in the previously measured indicators.

Inclusion Criteria:

• (1) Participants were entirely voluntary and capable of completing the full 12-week intervention process.
• (2) Participants were postmenopausal women aged between 50 and 69 years.
• (3) Participants had been postmenopausal for over 12 months and had not received exogenous estrogen supplementation post-menopause.

Exclusion Criteria:

• (1) Participants had a history of acute or chronic musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or other conditions that might impact their ability to engage in the intervention.
• (2) Participants had recent hormone treatment, anti-inflammatory medication use, or other medications affecting blood indices.
• (3) Participants experienced unstable body weight (fluctuations exceeding 2.5 kg) in the past three months.
• (4) Participants were concurrently enrolled in other intervention studies or maintained regular exercise routines.
• (5) Participants had smoking or alcohol consumption habits.