� Background & objectives: Obesity and visceral fat accumulation after menopause are associated with lipid profile changes, metabolic syndrome and c ardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 8-week aerobic - resistance training and estrogen replacement therapy on visceral fat and cardiovascular risk factors in ov ariectomized rats.

� Methods: Fifty female Wistar rats were ov ariectomized and divided into 5 OVX groups (n=10 rats per group): Ovx+sedentary (Sedentary), aerobic - resistance training (Ovx+Exe), aerobic - resistance training+estrogen replacement therapy (Ovx+Exe+Est), estrogen replacement therapy (Ovx+Est) and vehicle group or sesame oil (Ovx+Oil). The exercise consisted of aerobic-resistance training (20 m/min, 3 days/week, 60 min/day, 10% slope, Load 3% body weight) 17b-estradiol valerate (30 �g/kg bw in 0.2 ml sesame oil) were injected subcutaneously three days a week during 8 week. The co-treatment group received both exercise and estradiol protocol as same as previous groups.

� Results: After 8-week of interventions, visceral fat significantly reduced by Ovx+Exe and Ovx+Exe+Est compared to Sedentary rats (p<0.05), however no significant difference in body weight was observed. BMI significantly reduced in Ovx+Exe and Ovx+Exe+Est groups compared to Sedentary group. Also, BMI significantly reduced in Ovx+Est compared to Ovx+Oilgroup (p<0.05). Although this intervention changed lipid profiles, they were not statistically significant in neither of groups. Statistical comparisons between groups were performed usingone-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey&rsquos post-hoc test. The differences were considered significant at p<0.05.

� Conclusion: Eight weeks aerobic-resistance training successfully decreases visceral fat and BMI.