Exercise-induced improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate response to exercise are impaired in overweight/obese postmenopausal women

Authors

  • Emmanuel Gomes Ciolac University of São Paulo; School of Medicine; Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology; Laboratory of Kinesiology
  • Júlia Maria D'Andréa Greve University of São Paulo; School of Medicine; Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology; Laboratory of Kinesiology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1807-59322011000400011

Keywords:

Exercise, Obesity, Cardiorespiratory fitness, Heart rate, Muscle strength

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the heart rate response to exercise and the exercise-induced improvements in muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate response between normal-weight and overweight/obese postmenopausal women. METHODS: Sedentary women (n = 155) were divided into normal-weight (n = 79; BMI <25 kg/m²; 58.3 + 8.6 years) and overweight/obese (n = 76; BMI >25 kg/m²; 58.3 + 8.6 years) groups, and have their 1-repetition maximum strength (adjusted for body mass), cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate response to a graded exercise test compared before and after 12 months of a three times-per-week exercise-training program. RESULTS: Overweight/obese women displayed decreased upper and lower extremity muscle strengths, decreased cardiorespiratory fitness, and lower peak and reserve heart rates compared to normal-weight women. After follow-up, both groups improved their upper (32.9% and 41.5% in normal-weight and overweight/obese women, respectively) and lower extremity(49.5% and 47.8% in normal-weight and overweight/obese women, respectively) muscle strength. However, only normal-weight women improved their cardiorespiratory fitness (6.6%) and recovery heart rate (5 bpm). Resting, reserve and peak heart rates did not change in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight/obese women displayed impaired heart rate response to exercise. Both groups improved muscle strength, but only normal-weight women improved cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate response to exercise. These results suggest that exercise-induced improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate response to exercise may be impaired in overweight/obese postmenopausal women.

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Published

2011-01-01

Issue

Section

Clinical Sciences

How to Cite

Ciolac, E. G., & Greve, J. M. D. (2011). Exercise-induced improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate response to exercise are impaired in overweight/obese postmenopausal women . Clinics, 66(4), 583-589. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1807-59322011000400011