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Objective: Whole-body vibration (WBV) training has been established as a useful method to improve physical fitness in obese individuals. However, the effects of WBV exercise on maximal fat oxidation (MFO) have not been examined in obese subjects yet., Method: MFO was eval-uated during a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on a treadmill in 12 adult obese males (BMI = 34.9 ± 3.3 kg/m2) after three different warm-up conditions: static half squat plus WBV (HSV), static half squat without WBV (HSWV), and rest (REST). Cortisol levels were evaluated before and after the warm-up, and 1 min (T1), 10 min (T10), and 30 min (T30) of the recovery phase., Results: MFO was significantly higher in HSV (p = 0.013; 569.4 ± 117.9 mg/min) and HSWV (p = 0.033; 563.8 ± 142.9 mg/min) than REST (445.5 ± 117.9 mg/min). Cortisol concentrations at T1 were significantly higher in HSV (p = 0.023) and HSWV (p = 0.015) than REST. Moreover, cortisol concentrations were significantly lower at T30 than T1 in HSWV (p = 0.04). No differences were found between T30 and T1 in HSV., Conclusions: Active warm-up increases MFO; however, vibration stimulus during half squatting does not increase MFO during a CPET in obese subjects. The lack of significant differences of cortisol concentrations in HSV during the recovery phase might suggest a long-term effect of WBV on the endocrine system., (© 2020 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objective: The use of the Individual Ventilatory Threshold (IVT), as parameter to prescribe exercise intensity in individuals with obesity, has become more frequent during the last years. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between IVT and Maximal Fat Oxidation (MFO) in women with obesity., Methods: Fifty-two obese female adults (age = 43.6±10.9 years; BMI = 38.5±5.2 kg/m2) were included in this study. According to the BMI classification, subjects were divided into three groups: Obese Class I (OBI, n = 16); Obese Class II (OBII, n = 20) and Obese Class III (OBIII, n = 16). All subjects performed an incremental graded exercise test to evaluate peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), IVT and MFO. MFO was evaluated using a stoichiometric equation. Fat max zone was determined for each subject within 10% of fat oxidation rates at MFO. For each HR, %HRmax, VO2 and %VO2peak variable, Pearson's correlation test was done between IVT and MFO exercise intensity. When statistical correlation was found we used a comparative statistical analysis to assess differences between IVT and MFO. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05., Results: For each HR, %HRmax, VO2 and %VO2peak variable there was a positive significant correlation (P<0.01) between IVT and MFO. No significant differences were found for HR, %HRmax, and VO2 between IVT and MFO. %VO2peak was significantly higher at IVT than at MFO (P = 0.03). MFO rates were significantly higher in OBIII women than in women of the other two classes. In all subjects, IVT was within the fat max zone., Conclusion: The use of HR and VO2 corresponding to IVT could be a useful parameter not only to improve cardiorespiratory fitness but also to prescribe physical activity that maximize fat oxidation in obese subjects., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Body weight loss program may lead to a decrease in lean body mass affecting negatively muscle performance in obese subjects. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of weight loss on muscle performance in female obese subjects., Methods: Eighty obese female adults were enrolled for a 2-month unsupervised aerobic training (UAT) plus nutritional program. In the pre- and postintervention body composition was evaluated by hand-to-foot bioelectrical impedance method, body strength using handgrip test, and lower muscle power was assessed by a 5-repetition chair stand test (CST) and 30-s chair stand test (30sCST) wearing a dynamometer., Results: Thirty-six subjects completed the protocol, 39% had high compliance (HC), while 61% had low compliance (LC) to exercise prescription. HC group showed a significant decreased body weight, percent of fat mass and lean muscle mass after training. Both groups significantly increased CST performance while only HC significantly increased 30sCST. No differences were found in CST muscle power in both groups between pre- and post-training. However, evaluation of muscle power during 30sCST showed significantly higher value in HC group than LC group after training., Conclusions: The results of our study show that although total lean muscle mass decreased after UAT, lower body muscle efficiency increased while muscle power did not change suggesting that in obese patients UAT can help to optimize weight loss and body efficiency. The data might be helpful for exercise professionals to evaluate correctly the muscle performance in obese adults after weight loss programs.

Objective: Prescribing individualized moderate exercise intensity is a useful method to reach positive effects on health status in obese adults. This study aimed to establish a practical reference equation to estimate the heart rate (HR) at individual ventilatory threshold (IVT) (HRIVT)., Methods: One hundred sixty-one obese subjects were clinically evaluated and characterized by anthropometric and body composition. Participants performed the six-minute walking test (6-MWT) and the cardiopulmonary exercise test to assess IVT. Multiple regression analysis for HRIVT, including 6-MWT, anthropometric, and body composition parameters, as independent variables, was performed for both gender separately. A cross-validation study was also performed to determine the accuracy of the prediction equation., Results: Whereas HRIVT was not significantly different between males (121.5±18.3 bpm) and females (117.6±17.1 bpm), it differently correlated with physical and performance parameters. Therefore, two sex-specific equations were developed including 6-MWTHR and HRrest (R2 = 0.69 and 0.65 and root mean square errors of 8.8 and 10.1 bpm for females and males, respectively)., Conclusion: In conclusion, in female and male obese adults, the 6-MWT might be used to predict HR at IVT. These outcomes are useful to prescribe optimal physical activity intensity when gold standard methods (e.g. gas exchange analysis) are unavailable.

Purpose: Evaluation of the effects of an individualized home-based unsupervised aerobic training on body composition, physical and physiological parameters in female and male obese adults., Methods: Two hundred and twenty obese adults (age 47.9 ± 12.4 years; BMI 38.0 ± 7.2 kg/m 2 ) entered the 4-month training program. Body composition, physiological and functional capacities were assessed pre- and post-intervention. All subjects were requested to perform unsupervised aerobic training with the intensity based on heart rate, walking speed and OMNI-RPE score corresponding to the individual ventilatory threshold for at least 5 days/week., Results: After 4-month study period, 40% of patients completed the protocol, 24% had high compliance (HC) (exercise ≥ 3 days/week), while 16% had low compliance (LC) to exercise prescription (exercise < than 3 days/week). In HC group, a significant improvement of body composition variables after training was performed. Moreover, oxygen uptake and metabolic equivalent at peak significantly increased after training. Six-minute walking test (6MWT) distance significantly increased while heart rate during 6MWT was significantly lower after training. No significant differences were found in LC group between pre- and post-intervention in all variables. Interestingly, gender does not influence the effects of training., Conclusions: Our results indicate that subjects, independent of gender, with high compliance to the aerobic training based on a new individualized method can achieve a significant reduction in weight loss and also an improvement in physical and physiological parameters. This innovative personalized prescription could be a valuable tool for exercise physiologist, endocrinologists, and nutritionists to approach and correct life style of obese subjects.