RESUMO
SUMMARY OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association between handgrip strength and body composition, physical fitness, and biomarkers in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: A total of 75 postmenopausal women were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome participated in this study. Muscle strength was assessed via a hydraulic grip strength dynamometer; physical fitness tests included a timed-up-and-go, arm curl test, and 30-s chair stand. Body composition was assessed via bioelectrical impedance, from which estimates of fat mass, body fat percentage, fat-free mass, and visceral fat area were determined. Fasting plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin were measured via blood sample analyses. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted using handgrip strength as the dependent variable and using body composition, physical fitness, and biomarkers as independent variables. RESULTS: The results revealed that 52% of the total sample were classified as obese, 37.3% as overweight, and only 10.7% as normal weight. Significant correlations were present between handgrip strength and fat-free mass (p=0.002; R=0.590), mean blood pressure (p=0.002; R=0.450), and arm curl (p=0.001; R=0.795). CONCLUSION: This study showed that handgrip strength was predictive of fat-free mass, blood pressure, and upper limb strength performance.
RESUMO
Abstract The aim of the present study was to compare differences in heart rate (HR) response during and following exercise in obese older women with different percent body fat levels. Ninety older, obese women aged 60-87 years participated in the study, were categorized, and enrolled to one of two groups based on a lower percent body fat (LPBF ≤ 41.10 %) or higher percent body fat (HPBF > 41.10 %) as measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The peak HR during exercise and in the first and second minutes of recovery period were compared between groups. The HPBF group presented a lower peak HR during exercise (p =.001) and an impaired HR recovery (p =.001) when compared to LPBF group. The present study demonstrated that older women who were in exceedingly obese level have an impaired heart rate response during exercise and in the recovery period, indicating possible autonomic dysfunction.
Resumo O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar a reposta da frequência cardíaca (FC) durante e após um teste de esforço entre mulheres idosas obesas com diferentes níveis de percentual de gordura corporal. Noventa idosas obesas com idade entre 60-87 anos participaram desse estudo e foram separadas em dois grupos com base no baixo percentual (LPBF ≤ 41.10 %) e alto percentual de gordura corporal (HPBF > 41.10 %) medido por absorciometria de raio-x de dupla energia. A FC pico durante o teste e no primeiro e segundo minuto de recuperação foram comparadas entre os grupos. O grupo HPBF apresentou FC pico inferior durante o teste (p = 0.001) e também após o período de recuperação (p = 0.001) quando comparado com o grupo LPBF. Os dados desse estudo demonstraram que mulheres idosas com alto percentual de gordura corporal apresentaram FC pico inferior e menor recuperação da FC durante o período de recuperação, indicando possivelmente uma disfunção autonômica.