Scholarly record

ADAPTATION OF HUMAN BODY TO OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY

A. Pilis, K.Stec, M. Zych, C. Michalski, K. Pilis

Abstract

Introduction: Excess body weight adversely affects human health and the body strives to adapt to any increase in weight. Therefore the aim of this study was to determine physical performance and presentation of the cardiovascular and respiratory fitness under the conditions of maximum exercise load in obese and overweight men. Methods: The study involved 12 obese men (OM), 12 overweight men (OWM), and 12 men with normal body mass (NBM). All subjects were of a similar age. After determining the somatic data, the respondents were subjected to a cycloergometer test at the maximum intensity level, during which the highest aerobic power (HAP) was determined along with cardiovascular and respiratory fitness variables. Results: The statistically significant difference in body mass - BM (p<0.001) - was due to the different ratios of body fat (BF) to fat free mass (FFM) present to varying degrees in these subjects (p<0.001). Maximal relative oxygen uptake (VO2max) and HAP of the NBM and OWM groups were similar to one another and also higher than the relative values achieved by the OM group. Moreover, systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse pressure (PP), cardiac output (CO), absolute maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), and oxygen pulse (VO2/HR) were lower, but total peripheral resistance (TPR) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were higher, in the NBM group than in the OWM and OM groups. Pulmonary ventilation (VE) and carbon dioxide excretion (VCO2) were lower in the NBM than in the OWM group. Conclusions: Moderate gain in body mass in the case of the OWM group does not cause adverse changes in the respiratory system but rather does lead to improvement in the respiratory systemВ’s functioning, and so to a more general increase in physical performance. Further weight gain into the category of obesity, however, leads to a decrease in physical performance associated with deterioration of cardiovascular and respiratory functions.

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