Effect Of Physical Activity On Weight, Abdominal Adiposity, And Blood Pressure In Overweight Adults

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) is recommended as a key component of interventions to reduce body weight and cardiovascular disease risk factors. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of an 18 month PA intervention on change in weight, abdominal adiposity, and blood pressure in overweight adults. METHODS: 217 non-medicated overweight adults (BMI =27.07+1.68 kg/m2; age=44.77+8.19 yrs) participated in an 18 month intervention and were instructed to participate in 150 to 300 min/wk of moderate intensity PA, with no reduction in dietary intake recommended. Weight (WT), waist circumference (WC), sagittal diameter (SAG), resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and PA were assessed at 0, 6 and 18 months. RESULTS: Baseline resting SBP and DBP were 115±10 mmHg and 75±7 mmHg, respectively. Significant decreases at 6 and 18 months were observed for WT (1.40+2.89; 0.89±4.14 kg), WC (2.14±6.55; 1.30±7.98 cm), SAG (0.63±1.29; 0.55±1.55 cm), SBP (3.03±9.75; 2.40±10.59 mmHg) and DBP (2.19±7.33; 1.97±8.64 mmHg) (p<.05). PA significantly increased at 6 (985±1243 kcal/wk) and 18 months (701±1275 kcal/wk)(p<.05), and was significantly correlated with change in WT at 6 (r= -.15) and 18-months (r= -0.20)(p<.05). Change in WT at 6 and 18 months significantly correlated with change in SBP (r's= 0.28, 0.28) and DBP (r's= 0.19, 0.24), respectively (p<.05). Change in WC at 6 and 18 months significantly correlated with 6 and 18 month change in SBP (r's= 0.14, 0.19) and DBP (r's= 0.16, 0.23), respectively (p<.05). Change in SAG at 6 and 18 months significantly correlated with 6 and 18 month change in SBP (r's= 0.32, 0.26) and DBP (r's= 0.23, 0.25), respectively (p<.05). PA was not significantly correlated with change in SBP or DBP at 6 or 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: An 18 month PA intervention results in modest but significant improvements in WT, WC, SAG and blood pressure (SBP and DBP) in overweight non-hypertensive adults. Changes in blood pressure are correlated with changes in WT and measures of abdominal adiposity (WC, SAG) but not PA. However, PA may impact reductions in blood pressure in this population by decreasing WT and abdominal adiposity. Supported by the National Institutes of Health (HL070257)