The effects of excess body fat on fine motor performance following physical exertion

This study evaluated the effects of excess body fat on fine motor performance prior to and following moderate and heavy intensities of physical exertion. An attempt was made to demonstrate a reduction in psychomotor performance, postexercise, among obese non-fit subjects who might be seen as occupationally unsuitable for certain military or civilian operational roles. One hundred healthy males (mean age +/- S.D. = 29.1 +/- 6.0 years) volunteered for the study. Motor performance was assessed using the Canadian National Research Council tracometer, a device which integrates choice reaction time and pursuit tracking on a step-input subject-paced pursuit tracking task. These measurements were taken prior to and following moderate and heavy treadmill exercise (at 6 METs and 9 METs, which produced (mean +/- S.D.) heart rates of 130 +/- 15 bpm and 173 +/- 17 bpm, respectively). When the subjects were classified according to % body fat (desirable less than or equal to 14.9%; overfat 15-24.9%; obese greater than or equal to 25%), there were no significant differences in postexercise motor performance among these groups. For all groups, the moderate exercise had no effect on tracometer performance, while heavy exercise led to an immediate deterioration in performance followed by a slight improvement. In this particular experimental protocol, postexercise fine motor performance was not significantly influenced by excess body fat.