Effects of Physical Activity, VO_2max, and Visfatin on Relationship Between BMI and Chronic Inflammation

This study aims to explore the relationship between BMI and chronic inflammation and to investigate the interaction and mediation of physical activity (PA), cardiopulmonary function, and visfatin.

A total of 119 participants were included in the study, 60 in the obesity group, 30 in the normal weight group, and 29 in the overweight group. PA, VO_2max, visfatin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and four blood lipid indices (TC, TG, HDLC, LDLC) were analyzed. Regression analysis was used to understand the effect of BMI on chronic inflammation. Covariate analysis was conducted to screen effective covariates affecting BMI to predict chronic inflammation and test the interaction and intermediary role of effective covariates.

The increase in BMI could aggravate chronic inflammation. PA, VO_2max, and visfatin had interactive effects on BMI affecting chronic inflammation, and visfatin played an intermediary role in BMI affecting chronic inflammation. The effect value of BMI on chronic inflammation in terms of low PA was 3.5 times higher than that of high PA, that of low VO_2max was 2.8 times higher than that of high VO_2max, and that of high visfatin was 3.65 times higher than that of low visfatin. Approximately 19.35% of the effect was mediated by visfatin.

An increase in BMI can aggravate chronic inflammation. Increases in PA and VO_2max can alleviate chronic inflammation, and visfatin plays a positive mediating role.