The association between cardiorespiratory fitness and abdominal adiposity in postmenopausal, physically inactive South Asian women.

Journal: Preventive medicine reports
Published Date: Sep 21, 2015

Abstract

In South Asians, a unique obesity phenotype of high abdominal fat is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with abdominal fat and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether CRF as assessed by VO2 peak, in post-menopausal South Asian women, was associated with body fat distribution and abdominal fat. Physically inactive post-menopausal South Asian women (n = 55) from the Greater Vancouver area were recruited and assessed from January to August 2014. At baseline, VO2 peak was measured with the Bruce Protocol, abdominal fat with CT imaging, and body composition with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. ANOVA was used to assess differences in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and total abdominal adipose tissue (TAAT) between tertiles of CRF. Bivariate correlation and multiple linear regression analyses explored the association between VO2 peak with SAAT, VAT, TAAT and body composition. Models were further adjusted for body fat and body mass index (BMI). Compared to women in the lowest tertile of VO2 peak (13.8-21.8 mL/kg/min), women in the highest tertile (25.0-27.7 mL/kg/min) had significantly lower waist circumference, BMI, total body fat, body fat percentage, lean mass, SAAT, VAT and TAAT (p < 0.05). We found VO2 peak to be negatively associated with SAAT, VAT and TAAT, independent of age and body fatness but not independent of BMI. Further research is necessary to assess whether exercise and therefore improvements in CRF would alter SAAT, VAT and TAAT in post-menopausal South Asian women.

Authors

  • I A Lesser
    Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 5K3.
  • T J M Dick
    Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 5K3.
  • J A Guenette
    Department of Physical Therapy and Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia and St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6.
  • A Hoogbruin
    Faculty of Health, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Surrey, BC, Canada V3W 2M8.
  • D C Mackey
    Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 5K3; Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 1M9.
  • J Singer
    School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia and St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6.
  • S A Lear
    Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 5K3; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6; Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6.

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