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Diet and exercise training restore blood pressure and vasodilatory responses during physiological maneuvers in obese
Maurício M Ribeiro1, Alexandre G Silva, Nelson S Santos
1Department of Endocrinology, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. mmaltez@usp.br
Insights
Childhood obesity impairs blood vessel function during exercise and stress. Combined diet and exercise training effectively restores blood pressure and vascular responses in obese children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing concern with unknown effects on muscle blood flow regulation.
- Previous research has not fully explored how diet and exercise interventions impact vascular responses in obese children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate blood pressure (BP) and forearm vascular conductance (FVC) responses during physiological stress in obese children.
- To determine if diet and exercise training can restore normal BP and FVC responses in this population.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-nine obese children were divided into diet-only or diet plus exercise groups; ten lean children served as controls.
- Forearm blood flow was measured using plethysmography, and BP was monitored noninvasively during handgrip exercise and mental stress tests.
- Intervention groups underwent diet or diet plus exercise training, with outcomes compared to baseline and control groups.
Main Results:
- Obese children exhibited higher baseline BP and lower FVC compared to lean controls.
- During exercise and mental stress, obese children showed exaggerated BP responses and blunted FVC responses.
- Diet plus exercise training significantly improved FVC responses during stress, normalizing them to levels seen in lean children.
Conclusions:
- Obesity in children significantly alters blood pressure and vascular conductance during physiological challenges.
- Dietary changes alone reduced BP, but only combined diet and exercise training restored vascular conductance.
- Interventions including exercise are crucial for normalizing cardiovascular responses in obese children.
Background:
The effects of diet and diet plus exercise training on muscle vasodilatation during physiological maneuvers in obese children are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that (1) blood pressure (BP) and forearm vascular conductance (FVC) responses during handgrip exercise and mental stress would be altered in obese children and (2) diet plus exercise training would restore BP and FVC responses during exercise and mental stress in obese children.
Methods And Results:
Thirty-nine obese children (aged 10+/-0.2 years) were randomly divided into 2 groups: diet plus exercise training (n=21; body mass index [BMI]=28+/-0.5 kg/m2) and diet (n=18; BMI=30+/-0.4 kg/m2). Ten age-matched lean control children (BMI=17+/-0.5 kg/m2) were also studied. Forearm blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. BP was monitored noninvasively. Handgrip exercise was performed at 30% maximal voluntary contraction for 3 minutes. Stroop color word test was performed for 4 minutes. Baseline BP was significantly higher and FVC was significantly lower in obese children. During exercise and mental stress, BP responses were significantly higher and FVC responses were significantly lower in obese children. Diet and diet plus exercise training significantly reduced body weight. Diet and diet plus exercise training significantly decreased BP levels during exercise and mental stress. Diet plus exercise training, in contrast to diet alone, significantly increased FVC responses during exercise (3.7+/-0.3 versus 5.6+/-0.4 U; P=0.01) and mental stress (3.5+/-0.5 versus 4.5+/-0.4 U; P=0.02). After diet plus exercise training, BP and FVC responses during exercise and mental stress were similar between obese children and the control group.
Conclusions:
Obesity exacerbates BP responses and impairs FVC responses during exercise and mental stress in children. Diet and exercise training restore BP and FVC responses in obese children.
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