ABSTRACT
C-reactive protein is a sensitive, nonspecific marker of inflammation and its relationship with coronary vascular disease is already established. The present research was conducted to study the effect of resistance training on the rate of C-reactive protein in obese men. The present study was quasi-experimental and 24 male subjects [16 obese, 8 lean] with age range of 35 to 48 years voluntarily participated in the study. Obese men were randomly assigned into two groups: resistance training and control group. The third group included the lean men subjects. Fasting blood samples were taken from all subjects. The experimental subjects received resistance training for 13 weeks, 3 sessions per week. The resistance training was done in circuit fashion in 11 stations with a 50 to 60% intensity of one maximum repetition [IRM]. Resistance training significantly decreased the serum CRP levels of the obese men [from 1 .65 +/- 0.6 to 0.53 +/- 0.73]. In addition, serum CRP concentrations in obese men at baseline state were significantly higher than those in lean men [1.56 +/- 0.58 versus 0.26 +/- 0.21]. In all subjects there was a significant and positive correlation between serum CRP levels and obesity markers [r=0.75] and different components of the metabolic syndrome. Resistance training due to antinflammatory effects is likely to reduce the risk of future cardiovascular events in obese men