Effects of aerobic training on body fat distribution in women with upper body fat and lower body fat with and without obesity

Author(s)

Patricia Vieira

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Educação Física e Esportes (EEFE/BT)
• Defense date: 2005-11-08

Examining board members

Antonio Herbert Lancha Junior; Marisa Passarelli; Tais Tinucci

• Advisor: Antonio Herbert Lancha Junior

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of aerobic physical training on body fat distribution and glucose tolerance in sedentary premenopausal women. 12 overweight women from 29-49 y of age and BMI from 20-30 kg/m2 were randomly divided into two groups: upper body obesity (UBO) with waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) >= 0,75 ; n=6; and lower body obesity (LBO) with WHR < 0,75; n=6. Intervention consisted in interval aerobic training, three times a week for 12 weeks. Fat mass (FM) and fat free mass (FFM) were determine by hydrostatic weight; a computed tomography was used for determine subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) at umbiculus level; gluteal subcutaneous adipose tissue (GSAT) at major trocanter level and thigh subcutaneous adipose tissue (TSAT) at midthigh level; oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed and area under curve was calculated by a trapezoid method. Plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, insulin, glucose were measured; LDL-cholesterol was calculated as Freidewald formula VO2max was determined by cardiopulmonary exercise testing; physical activity energy expendure by indirect calorimetry; and dietary intake by a diary of three days. Analyses of variance were used to asses the significance differences among groups pre and post-test. The significance level adapted was p<=0.05. Women with UBO reduce weight (0,8 kg), VAT (10,4%); GSAT (3,3%). Women with LBO increase fat free mass (4,3%) and reduce fat mass (-4,3%) and maintained weight. HDL-c was reduce by 2,6 mg/dL, and triglycerides were different between groups at the end of intervention program. There were no changes in serum glucose and insulin. Aerobic training without caloric restriction induced weight loss, reduce visceral obesity and subcutaneous gluteal fat only in women with upper body fat and reduce total body fat in women with lower body fat and do not improve serum glucose and insulin in women with normal glucose tolerance neither lipoprotein profile (AU)