Aim: This study examined the effects of an exercise training program on ventilatory function at rest and the exercise cardiorespiratory pattern in relation to body composition in obese individuals (53.4±7.6 years; 158.6±6.7 cm).
Methods: After initial tests (exercise testing and anthropometric assessment), ten women participated in a 12-week training program combining strength exercise and aerobic exercise at the ventilatory threshold, three times per week for 90 minutes.
Results: The post-training mean ventilatory efficiency (ΔE/ΔCO(2)) and cardiac efficiency (ΔHR/ΔO(2)) were improved (P<0.05, respectively). Decreased fat mass (-1.2 kg, P<0.01), increased lean body mass (+1 kg, P<0.01), and decreased waist and hip circumferences (-5.5 cm and -5 cm, respectively, P<0.05) were also obtained after training.
Conclusion: The program significantly improved a number of physiological variables in our obese patients, although not to sedentary healthy levels. The results show that a functional exercise program has the potential to improve physiological variables and dynamic cardiorespiratory response to exercise in obese women.