Relationships between obesity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiovascular function

Abstract

Background. Obesity and low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) have been shown to independently increase the risk of CVD mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between CRF, body fatness and markers of arterial function. Method and Results. Obese (9 male, 18 female; BMI 35.3 ± 0.9 kgṡm-2) and lean (8 male, 18 female; BMI 22.5 ± 0.3 kgṡm-2) volunteers were assessed for body composition (DXA), cardiorespiratory fitness (predicted V ̇ O 2 max), blood pressure (BP), endothelial vasodilatator function (FMD), and arterial compliance (AC) (via radial artery tonometry). The obese group had more whole body fat and abdominal fat (43.5 ± 1.2% versus 27.2 ± 1.6%; P