Effects of a 12-Week Waltz Dance Intervention on Cardiovascular Health in Women Aged 45-65 With Dyslipidemia

Effects of a 12-Week Waltz Dance Intervention on Cardiovascular Health in Women Aged 45-65 With Dyslipidemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether Waltz dance can improve cardiometabolic and bone health in sedentary women aged 45-65 with abnormal lipid levels. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Can Waltz dance improve blood lipid profiles, including total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, and LDL-C? Can it improve body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, vascular function, and bone mineral density? Researchers will compare a Waltz dance group with a control group that maintains their usual lifestyle to see if the dance intervention leads to better health outcomes.

Participants will:

Attend supervised Waltz dance classes three times a week for 12 weeks, each session lasting 105 minutes.

Complete physical tests and blood draws before and after the program to measure changes in lipid levels, body composition, fitness, and bone density.

Wear an accelerometer to monitor energy expenditure and physical activity during the program.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Female participants aged between 45 and 65 years.
2. Diagnosed with dyslipidemia (based on clinical lipid profile: TC ≥ 6.2 mmol/L, TG ≥ 2.3 mmol/L, LDL-C ≥ 4.1 mmol/L, or HDL-C < 1.0 mmol/L).
3. Sedentary lifestyle (less than 60 minutes of structured physical activity per week in the last 6 months).
4. Able to participate safely in moderate-intensity exercise as confirmed by a medical evaluation.
5. Willing to participate in a 12-week supervised exercise program, 3 times per week.
6. Able to understand study procedures and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of cardiovascular disease requiring medical supervision during exercise (e.g., unstable angina, recent myocardial infarction).
2. Severe musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., advanced osteoarthritis, recent fractures) limiting mobility or physical activity.
3. Neurological or cognitive disorders affecting motor function or communication.
4. Uncontrolled hypertension (SBP ≥ 160 mmHg or DBP ≥ 100 mmHg at rest).
5. Diagnosed osteoporosis with high fracture risk (T-score ≤ -2.5 and history of fragility fractures).
6. Any endocrine disorder that significantly affects lipid metabolism (e.g., uncontrolled thyroid disease, Cushing's syndrome).
7. Participation in structured exercise or dance programs within the past 12 months.
8. Current use of medications significantly affecting lipid levels (e.g., high-dose statins) unless dose has been stable for at least 3 months.
9. Any condition judged by the investigator to interfere with safe participation in the study.