Effects of short-term, integrated body mass reduction program on maximal oxygen consumption and anaerobic alactic performance in obese subjects

The study investigated the effect of a short-term (3-week) body mass reduction program, combining energy-restricted diet, nutritional education, psychological counselling and aerobic exercise training (DEP-AT) on maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and anaerobic alactic performance evaluated with different techniques in obese patients (grade II and III). Fifty-three (14 males, 39 females) obese subjects [average\ub1SD body mass index (BMI): 41.6\ub14.2 kg/m2] were tested before and after the DEP-AT program characterised by a daily conditioning protocol of aerobic exercise on cycloergometer, treadmill and armergometer for a total duration of 35 min at an intensity corresponding to 50% of individual VO2max during the first week of the program and at 60% in the following 2 weeks. VO2max was determined with the cycloergometric indirect method. Short-term alactic anaerobic performance was evaluated with: a) jumping test (5 consecutive jumps with maximal effort, Bosco technique), b) short sprint running test (8 m), and c) stair climbing test (modified Margaria test). The DEP-AT program induced a significant weight loss (-4.57\ub11.26%, p<0.001) and a significant \u307VO2max increase (14.1\ub120.5%, p<0.001). After the DEP-AT program, lower limb alactic anaerobic power output, calculated on a per kg body mass basis, increased significantly both in jumping and in stair climbing (20.1\ub124.8%, p<0.001 and 13.5\ub119.75%, p<0.001, respectively), as well as average horizontal velocity during short sprinting (7.2\ub117.6%, p<0.01 . Power output was a major determinant of the motor performance, being significantly correlated with: a) vertical displacement of the centre of gravity (R2=0.884, p<0.001) in jumping test, b) vertical velocity (R2=0.348, p<0.001) in stair climbing test, and c horizontal velocity (R2=0.394, p