지용석

한서대학교

Background: Obesity is associated with comorbidities including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, orthopedic abnormalities, and some cancers. Treatment for weight reduction varies; however, ultimately a negative energy balance must be established if weight is to decrease. Weight loss in obese individuals will generally lead to reduced risk factors. The purpose of this study was to analyze the pure effects of exercise on metabolic variables, cardiovascular variables, body composition and muscular function in the elderly with complications of obesity.

Methods: To determine whether exercise, itself, is important in changing the risk profiles of obesity, four groups of elderly were studied: men-exercise program (Ex-M, n=19; age, 77.94±5.59years; percent fat, 28.18±3.24%), men-no exercise (Con-M, n=19; age, 79.31±7.27years; percent fat, 26.07±5.55%), women-exercise program (Ex-F, n=20; age, 78.70±5.23years; percent fat, 36.09±4.90%), and women-no exercise (Con-F, n=20; age, 76.45±6.41years; percent fat, 31.77±3.13%). After 12 weeks, the risk profiles were retested and analyzed.

Results: The levels of blood glucose and total cholesterol decreased to normal values in both the men and women exercise groups; and the levels for those not participating in an exercise program were higher than their baseline measures after 12 weeks. Also, the cardiovascular variables and body compositions of the exercise groups improved, almost all variables of muscular function showed significant interactions between groups and observation times(P<0.05). Such changes, including higher lean mass and improved muscular function, help the elderly delay disability.

Conclusions: A 12-week exercise program improves metabolic and cardiovascular variables, body composition and muscular function in the elderly with complications of obesity, which will most likely lead to a higher quality of life compared to those who are sedentary. These findings have important clinical implications if we are to prevent the frailty and morbidity associated with aging.


(Korean J Health Promot Dis Prev 2009;9(3):241-249)


Key words: complications of obesity, metabolic variables, cardiovascular variables, body composition, muscular function