Differences in Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Upper and Lower Limb Muscle Function according to Waist to Hip Ratio Classification in Obese Women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to differences in cardiovascular risk factors and upper and lower limb muscle function according to the WHR classification in women with obese. Eighty-three obese women with over 30% body fat who aged between 20- and 30-years were divided into 3 groups: normal control group (NCG, n=6), obese women with low WHR group (WHR 0.85 or less<sup>+</sup> more than 30% body fat, OLW, n=64), obese women with high WHR group (WHR 0.85 or more<sup>+</sup> more than 30% body fat, OHW, n=13). We performed measurements to determine cardiovascular risk factors, basic physical fitness, isokinetic knee and trunk muscle functions according to WHR classification.As the result of this study, the knee flexor peak torque and hamstring to quadriceps torque ratio (H:Q ratio) as well as isokinetic endurance capacity of the right and left knee flexors were significantly higher in the NCG compared to the OLW and OHW. In addition, sergeant jump was significantly higher in the NCG compared to the OLW and OHW. But other basic physical fitness factors and cardiovascular disease risk factors were no significant difference between all groups. Our findings confirmed that WHR risk level may be an important predictor of lower extremity muscle function in obese women.