Effect of Physical Exercise on Adiposity and Physical Fitness in Middle Age Men with Different Body Mass

Abstract

Purpose: Overweight and/or obesity is a growing problem over the world. Alongside a range of health problems associated with increased body mass (BM) – adiposity and reducing of fitness level it is an important limiting factor for realization of regular physical exercise and quality of life. Therefore, the aim of our study was to verify the effect of physical intervention based on walking in men of middle age with different weight status with minimal changes in their eating habits. Material and Methods: Study was carried out in 25 middle age men with normal BM (mean age=43.7±3.6 years; BM=78.3±3.9 kg; height=177.5±4.6 cm; %BF=22.1±2.1 %, VO 2peak=33.2±3.1 ml/kg.min), 26 overweight men (42.0±2.9; 89.9±3.1; 178.1±4.0; 27.9±2.2; 30.2±3.9) and 18 obese men (43.8±3.0; 97.4±4.6; 178.3±3.2; 33.1±3.4; 24.1±4.2). All these subjects were without regularly movement training before the starting of intervention. Body composition was assessed by bioimpedance method using prediction equations that are valid for the Czech men population, functional variables were assessed on a treadmill. Results: The energy content per kg BM of weekly exercise for subjects with normal BM was 20.40±4.51 kcal/kg (13.4 – 20.4 kcal/kg), in overweight 20.36±3.00 kcal/kg (15.4 – 24.5), and in obese 20.33±3.39 kcal/kg (17.6 – 24.0). Reduction in %BF ranged from 9.4±2.7 % in obese to 8.6±2.1 % in normal BM of starting value, ECM/BCM relationship was decreased from 11.0±1.4 % in subjects with normal BM to 12.2±1.9 % in obese, and in VO 2peak increased from 10.3±2.2 % in normal BM to 12.7±2.6 % in obese. In men differing in BM are absolute changes in adiposity and aerobic fitness like a result of imposed movement intervention substantively and statistically significant (p<0.05, d≥0.05). On the contrary, differences in percentages of pre-intervention values are non-significant. Conclusion: Exercise program with a similar energy content, form and intensity causes the similar changes in adiposity and in functional performance in middle age men, differing in BM. Movement intervention based on walking reduces body weight and at the same time improves the morphological preconditions for physical activity.