The effect of exercise training level on arterial stiffness after clinically significant weight loss

SummaryArterial stiffness is improved by weight loss. However, no data exist on the impact of aerobic exercise levels on arterial stiffness during weight maintenance. Adults who  were  overweight or with obesity (N = 39) participated in a 10-week weight loss program. Participants who achieved ≥7% weight loss were randomized to aerobic training at the minimum physical activity guidelines (PA-REC, 550 MET min/week) or weight maintenance guidelines (WM-REC, 970 MET min/week) for 18 additional weeks. Arteria l stiffness (carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity [cfPWV], augmentation index normalized for 75 beats/min [AIX75]) and blood pressure [aortic and brachial]) were assessed at baseline, the end of the weight loss phase (week 10), and follow-up (week 28). There was a reduction in cfPWV in participant s who met the weight loss goal (−0.34 m/s,p = .02) and approached significance for the entire sample (p = .051). Similarly, there were reductions in AIX75, brachial blood pressure, and aortic blood pressure (p <  .05) in the full sample. In the weight maintenance phase, no differences were observed between the PA-REC and the WM-REC groups for change in arterial stiffness or blood pressure (p >  .05). However, changes in cfPWV were independently associated with changes in LDL (r2: 0.45,p = .004) and exercise intensity (r2: 0.17,p = .033). Aerobic exercise level at the minimum physical activity guidelines or weight maintenance guidelines does not ...
Source: Clinical Obesity - Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL RESEARCH Source Type: research