Weight loss, not aerobic exercise, improves pulmonary function in older obese men

We evaluated the effect of weight loss (WL) or aerobic exercise (AEX) on pulmonary function in middle-aged and older (46-80 years) obese, sedentary men to determine the effect of reductions in body weight and increases in cardiorespiratory fitness on pulmonary function. Subjects were randomly assign...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2000-08, Vol.55 (8), p.M453-M457
Main Authors: Womack, C J, Harris, D L, Katzel, L I, Hagberg, J M, Bleecker, E R, Goldberg, A P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Exercise
Exercise - physiology
Humans
Lungs
Male
Men
Middle age
Middle Aged
Obesity
Obesity - physiopathology
Respiration
Weight
Weight Loss - physiology
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Summary:We evaluated the effect of weight loss (WL) or aerobic exercise (AEX) on pulmonary function in middle-aged and older (46-80 years) obese, sedentary men to determine the effect of reductions in body weight and increases in cardiorespiratory fitness on pulmonary function. Subjects were randomly assigned to WL (n = 73), AEX (n = 71), or control (n = 26) groups. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), body composition and anthropometrics, pulmonary function, and arterial blood gases were measured at baseline and after interventions. The 35 subjects who completed WL decreased weight by 11%, body fat percentage by 21% (p < .001), waist circumference by 8%, waist-hip ratio by 2%, and fat-free mass by 3% (p < .05). This resulted in a 3% increase in forced vital capacity (FVC) (4.08 +/- 0.71 L vs 4.21 +/- 0.76 L), a 5% increase in total lung capacity (6.62 +/- 0.99 L vs 6.94 +/- 0.99 L), an 18% increase in functional residual capacity (3.09 +/- 0.58 L vs 3.66 +/- 0.79 L), and an 8% increase in residual volume (2.20 +/- 0.44 L vs 2.37 +/- 0.52 L), with no change in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, or carbon monoxide diffusing capacity. The change in FVC correlated with change in body weight (r = -.34, p < .05). The 38 subjects who completed AEX increased VO2max by 14%, with no change in pulmonary function. There were no changes in 8 control subjects. WL changes static lung volumes, not dynamic pulmonary function, in middle-aged and older, moderately obese, sedentary men. Some of the alterations in static lung function associated with aging may be due to the development of obesity and are modifiable by WL.
ISSN:1079-5006
1758-535X
DOI:10.1093/gerona/55.8.M453