J Obes Metab Syndr.  2020 Mar;29(1):67-75. 10.7570/jomes19063.

Twelve Weeks of Aerobic Exercise at the LactateThreshold Improves Autonomic Nervous SystemFunction, Body Composition, and Aerobic Performancein Women with Obesity

• Park HY
• Jung WS
• Kim J
• Hwang H
• Lim K

• KMID: 2504854
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7570/jomes19063

Abstract

Background
The present study examined the effects of a prolonged exercise intervention at the lactatethreshold (LT) on body composition, aerobic performance, and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in womenwith obesity.
Methods
A total of 36 obese Korean women aged 36 to 55 years (mean±standard deviation, 44.8±5.2 years)were randomly assigned to a control group (CON, n=18) or an experimental group (EXP, n=18); and EXP underwent aerobic exercise training three times a week at a heart rate corresponding to the LT (HR_LT) for 12 weeks.All dependent variables (body composition, aerobic performance, and ANS function parameters) were evaluated before and after training.
Results
Compared with the CON group, the EXP group showed significant improvement in body composition(body weight, −4.57 vs. −2.40 kg; body mass index, −1.79 vs. −0.96 kg/m²; %body fat, −4.63 vs. −1.41; fat-freemass, 3.24 vs. –0.08 kg), aerobic performance (oxygen consumption at LT, 5.74 vs. 0.12 mL/kg/min; maximal oxygen consumption, 5.41 vs. 2.14 mL/kg/min; treadmill speed at HR_LT, 1.40 vs. 0.29 km/hr; bicycle load at HR_LT,18.62 vs. 4.52 w; and ANS function (mean RR, 50.83 vs. −15.04 ms; standard deviation of NN intervals, 5.08 vs.−0.55 ms; root mean square of successive differences, 6.42 vs. 1.87 ms; total power, 0.34 vs. 0.10 ms²; high frequency, 0.32 vs. −0.04 ms²; low frequency/high frequency, −0.09 vs. 0.01).
Conclusion
Aerobic exercise at the LT for 12 weeks is a practical method of improving body composition, aerobic performance, and ANS function for women with obesity.

Keyword

Aerobic exercise; Body composition; Aerobic performance; Autonomic nervous system; Obesity