[Effects of long-term physical training on body composition, cardiovascular function, and serum lipids in mildly...

To investigate the effects of long-term physical exercise on humans, body composition, cardiovascular function and serum lipids were measured for a training period of 20 months in 8 men and 8 women, aged 36-67 years who were mildly obese. The subjects participated in physical training for 90 minutes about twice a week for 20 months. The intensity of training was at most 60% VO2max for each subject as calculated by karvonen's formula. The results are summarized as follows: (1) Body weight and estimated body fat weight decreased from baseline after the training in both sexes. The percentage decreases in body weight and estimated body fat weight in men were about threefold those in women. (2) Following the training, heart rate, blood pressure and rate pressure product (RPP) at rest had significantly decreased from initial levels in both sexes. (3) Following the training, the physical work capacity at a heart rate of 150bpm significantly increased, and systolic blood pressure at the heart rate of 150bpm significantly decreased from baseline levels in both sexes. (4) Following the training, the serum HDL-cholesterol and HDL-/total-cholesterol ratio significantly increased from baseline, and serum triglycerides and total cholesterol also significantly decreased from baseline levels in both sexes. These results suggest that long-term physical training with moderate intensity improves body composition, cardiovascular function and serum lipids in mildly obese middle-aged men and women, and reduces the risks for coronary heart disease.