The effects of UATC in addition to a classic moderate-intensity aerobic exercise program on body composition and cardiometabolic risk profile in adults with obesity

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the effects of UATC in addition to classic aerobic exercise therapy on body composition and cardiometabolic risk profile in adults with obesity.

Participants: Twenty-six adults with abdominal obesity participated in an aerobic exercise program with either local UATC or sham treatment.

Measurements: Measurements of body composition included body mass index (BMI), waist (WC) and hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and determinations of android fat mass, whole-body fat mass, and whole-body fat-free mass as assessed by a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan. Parameters of the cardiometabolic risk profile comprise systolic (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and a fasting blood sample to determine blood lipid profile, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FI) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c).

Results: Following the intervention, WC, android fat mass and whole-body fat mass decreased significantly in the UATC group, whereas only android fat mass decreased significantly in the control group. Regarding cardiometabolic risk profile, HbA1c increased significantly in the control group but not in the UATC group. No significant effects were found for BMI, HC, WHR, whole-body fat-free mass, SBP, DBP, blood lipid profile, FBG and FI after the intervention.

Conclusion: The effect of UATC in addition to classic aerobic exercise therapy concerning body composition and cardiometabolic risk profile in adults with obesity seems limited to significant improvements in body composition only.