The following is a summary of “Aerobic exercise capacity is normal in obesity with or without metabolic syndrome,” published in the APRIL 2023 issue of Pulmonology by Deboeck, et al.

For a study, researchers sought to assess the aerobic capacity of obese individuals and determine whether metabolic syndrome (MS) or hypertensive treatment affects the results of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). 

A total of 146 obese patients underwent CPET, with 33 and 31 individuals matched for MS and antihypertensive medication, respectively. The VO_2peak (mL/min/kg) was reported as a percentage of the predicted value divided by body weight, fat-free mass (FFM), or the body weight expected for a body mass index of 24 (BMI24). 

The results showed that VO_2peak (20.8 ± 4.4 mL/min/kg) was normal when expressed as a percentage of the predicted value for obesity (111 ± 22%pred) or divided by FFM and weight_BMI24 (33.6 ± 5.6 and 30.6 ± 6.2, respectively). The latter correlated better with the maximal work rate (r = 0.7168, P < 0.001). Obese patients also had normal ventilatory efficiency (ventilation to carbon dioxide production slope: 28 ± 4), VO₂ to work rate (10.2 ± 1.6 mL O2/Watt), and slightly elevated heart rate to VO₂slope (4.0 ± 1.1 bpm/mL/min/kg). Hypertensive medicated patients had higher blood pressure at the anaerobic threshold (142 ± 23 vs. 158 ± 26 mmHg, P = 0.001) but not at maximal exercise (189 ± 31 vs. 201 ± 23 mmHg, P = NS) and had lower actual maximal heart rate (155 ± 23 vs. 143 ± 25 bpm, P = 0.03) compared to normotensive individuals. 

There was no difference between obese patients with or without MS. Therefore, obese individuals with or without MS have similar and normal aerobic profiles related to excess body weight. The VO_2peak divided by weight_BMI24 was a simple and clinically meaningful index for obese patients.

Reference: resmedjournal.com/article/S0954-6111(23)00061-6/fulltext