COMUNICACIONES

SYMPOSIUM EXERNET. Investigación en Ejercicio y Salud: Presente y Futuro en España.
Granada, 7-8 de Noviembre de 2014

What is the most effective exercise protocol to improve cardiovascular fitness in overweight and obese men?

E.A. Castro^a, A.B.l. Peinado^b, R. Cupeiro^a, P.J. Benito^a, B. Szendrei^a, J. Butragueño^a, C. Gómez-Candela^c and on behalf of the PRONAF Study Group

^aDepartment of Health and Human Performance. Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. Technical University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
^bUniversity of Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, Spain
^cNutrition Department, IdiPAZ, University Hospital La Paz Research Institute, Madrid, Spain
Correo electrónico: eliane.castro@gmail.com (E.A. Castro).

Key words: Maximal oxygen consumption. Obesity. Training. Weight loss program.

Objective. The aim of this study was to determine which protocol of exercise is the most effective to improve the cardiovascular fitness in overweight and obese men following a weight loss program (WLP).
Methods. Seventy-eight overweight (W; n = 31; body mass index 25-29.9 kg/m²) and obese (O; n = 47; body mass index 30-34.9 kg/m²) males, aged 18-50 years, performed a modified Bruce protocol before (pre) and after (post) a WLP of 24 weeks. Subjects were randomized into three training groups (strength, S; endurance, E; or concurrent strength and endurance, SE; training frequency 3 times/week) or physical activity recommendations group (PA). All of them in combination with a 25-30% caloric restriction diet. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures was used.
Results. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max), VO₂ at the intensity of the aerobic threshold (VO₂AT) and VO₂ at the intensity of the anaerobic threshold (VO₂AnT) increased significantly in overweight and obese participants (Pre and post values in L.min^-1, respectively; VO_2max: W = 3.2 ± 0.6 vs 3.7 ± 0.5; O = 3.6 ± 0.6 vs 3.8 ± 0.6; VO₂AT: W = 1.3 ± 0.3 vs 1.7 ± 0.3; O = 1.6 ± 0.2 vs 1.9 ± 0.3; VO₂AnT: W = 2.6 ± 0.5 vs 3.1 ± 0.7; O = 2.9 ± 0.6 vs 3.2 ± 0.5). Interaction between time (before and after the intervention) and classification of BMI (overweight and obese) was found only for VO_2max [F (1,1) = 9.355, p = 0.003]. There was an interaction between time, BMI classification and intervention groups only for the VO₂AT [F (1,1,3) = 4.178, p = 0.009], which the largest increments occurred for PA group in overweight participants and SE group in obese participants.
Conclusion. Our results show that all methods could improve the cardiovascular fitness, including the recommendations of physical activity. The overweight group obtained a greater improvement than the obese group.