Relationships between Body Composition and Exercise Capacity in Obese Women

Introduction: Obesity is a metabolic disease characterized by abnormal fat accumulation. Physical inactivity can contribute to this accumulation of fat, which reduces cardiorespiratory capacity in obese women. The excess weight can impair both cardiometabolic and mechanical functions. The perimenopausal phase is marked by changes that affect women's body composition. Our aim is to identify the effects of body composition on cardio-respiratory capacities of perimenopausal women living with obesity. Methods: The present study was concerned with 51 women obese patients (BMI ≥ 30 Kg/m2). Body composition analysis was carried out by Bioelectric Impedance Analyser (BIA) which identified total body fat mass (FM) and the lean mass (LM) in Kg and as a percentage. Cardiorespiratory capacities (VO2 max), heart rate max (HRmax) and metabolic equivalent of task (MET) were assessed using an ergocycle. The correlations between body composition and cardiorespiratory capacities were calculated. Results: Average age of the obese women of the present study was 41.1 ± 12 years with average BMI of 36.9 ± 5.4 Kg.m-2. Average body weight was 93.43 ± 14.9 kg with an average Fat Mass (FM) of 41.3 ± 10 kg were observed. Average Heart Rate max (HRmax) of 152 ± 17 bmp with an average VO2 max was 16.5 ± 2.08 ml. Kg -1.min-1 Were observed for the present study. Negative and statistically significant correlations were observed between VO2 max and BMI (r = - 0.49, p ≤ 0.02), between VO2 max and FM % (r = - 0.61, p ≤ 0.01). Similarly, HRmax was inversely correlated (r = - 0.71, p ≤ 0.001 with age). Conclusion: The accumulation of fatty tissue in our series seems to negatively influence cardiorespiratory capacities in perimenopausal women with obesity. Fat mass as a percentage provides better information on the evolution of VO2 max. In addition to age, this category of obese seems to present a limitation in effort that must be taken when prescribing an appropriate physical activity.