Cardiovascular Responses to Submaximal Exercise Stress Test in Adolescents with High Visceral Fatness

Abstract

Background and Aim: Visceral adiposity per se was associated with risk of developing hypertension in future. There is escalating trend of visceral obesity in Indian adolescents. Nonetheless, the Asian Indian population is known to have an affinity for central fat deposition than peripheral fat. Meanwhile, the association of visceral adiposity and cardiovascular response to exercise in Indian adolescents of 18-19 years’ age group has not been well described so far. Therefore, the present study was undertaken. Methods: A Cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 non-athletes’ (60 males and 60 females) late Indian Adolescents of 18-19 years’ age group. Visceral Fat (VF) and Other Body composition were measured by Bioelectrical Impedance technique using Omron HBF 302 body fat analyzer. The participants were customized into two groups based on their Visceral Fat Level (0-9: Normal VF group; > 9: High VF group). Exercise Testing was done by treadmill exercise test following standard Bruce protocol. Cardiovascular reactivity (Heart Rate, Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure) was checked at the end of each stage of Bruce Protocol. Results: Increased SBP and DBP responses to treadmill exercise tests at different stages were seen in high VF groups in both the genders. However, no abnormal reactivity was observed in high VF groups of both the genders. Conclusion: During treadmill exercise stress test, high blood pressure reactivity was seen in high visceral fat adolescents as compared to normal visceral fat adolescents, which was primarily due to their high resting blood pressure. Adolescents with normal visceral fat were competent to cross more number of Bruce stages than high visceral fat Indian adolescents. Visceral fat had a stronger influence on baseline cardiovascular parameters like systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as blood pressure parameter during exercise than total body fat.