Effect of exercise training on cardiometabolic risk markers among sedentary, but metabolically healthy overweight or obese post-menopausal women with elevated blood pressure

Objective: To investigate the effect of exercise training on markers of the lipoprotein-lipid profile and inflammatory markers in post-menopausal overweight/obese women with a moderately elevated systolic blood pressure. Methods: A total of 267 women [mean body mass index (BMI) = 32.0 +/- 5.7 kg/m(2) and mean age = 57.3 +/- 6.6 years] underwent a 6-month exercise intervention program. Exercise training was performed 3-4 times per week at a targeted heart rate corresponding to 50% of the maximal oxygen consumption. Results: Compared to baseline values, mean change in relative VO2 max ( the primary endpoint) was of 1.18 +/- 2.25 mL/min kg ( p < 0.0001), mean weight loss was of 1.4 +/- 3.3 kg ( p < 0.0001), mean reduction in waist circumference was of 2.4 +/- 6.9 cm ( p < 0.0001) and systolic blood pressure did not change significantly (1.2 +/- 3.0 mmHg, NS). No changes were observed in markers of the lipoprotein-lipid profile. No changes were observed for plasma levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor-necrosis factor-alpha and adiponectin. Changes in VO2 max were negatively associated with changes in body weight (r = -0.26, p < 0.0001) and waist circumference (r =-0.16, p = 0.01), but not with changes in cardiometabolic risk markers. Conclusion: Although exercise training significantly increased cardiorespiratory fitness in these sedentary, but metabolically healthy obese/overweight women with a moderately elevated systolic blood pressure, no significant improvements were observed in their cardiometabolic risk profile. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.