Effects of Exercise on Cardiac Fat in Women With Obesity: a Pilot Study

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Excessive cardiac fat accumulation have been recognized to be associate to increased cardiac and metabolic risk. The aim of this study the effects of exercise in cardiac fat content, cardiac function, physical fitness, and metabolic activity in obesity.

Detailed Description
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Excessive cardiac fat accumulation have been recognized to be associate to increased cardiac and metabolic risk. More effective treatments are needed to induce changes in cardiac fat content, body composition, and cardiac fat metabolic activity that result in a reduction in cardiovascular risk in overweight and obese population. Despite this need, little is known about which mode, frequency, and duration of exercise will allow for greater reductions in cardiac fat, improvements in body composition, restoration of a healthy cardiac fat metabolic activity, and improvement on cardiovascular risk markers. The aim of this study the effects of exercise in cardiac fat content, cardiac function, physical fitness, and metabolic activity in obesity.

Official Title
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Effects of Exercise on Cardiac Fat in Women With Obesity: a Pilot Study

Conditions
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Obesity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Exercise Intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: BMI 30-39.99 White/Caucasian Exclusion Criteria: Known health problems such as cardiovascular, pulmonary or metabolic disease will be excluded. Pregnant females. Any adults found taking medications that affect endocrine or cardiovascular function will also be excluded from the study. Participants that exercise more than three times per week or strength train more than twice per week. Individuals that have poor venous access or have expressed a fear of needles or having blood taken will also be excluded. Cigarette smoking (current or those who quit within the previous 6 months Hypertension Diabetics MRI exclusion criteria must be observed: must complete a safety checklist that is designed to identify metal in your body that could pose a hazard during scanning. Some forms of metal are acceptable (e.g., dental fillings after 1970). Tattoos are generally not exclusionary, unless they have been inked with metallic dyes. All metal must be removed from your body. All female subjects, prior to scanning, are required to complete a pregnancy test. Must NOT be claustrophobic or have a history of claustrophobia

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Exercise Intervention<br>Hight intensity resistance training group | Other: Exercise Intervention<br>* The intervention will consist of 3 weeks of whole body circuit training (resistance training) where participants in the intervention group will perform 7 different exercises. The circuit will consist of 10 repetitions per exercise of 7 exercises: leg press, bent-over row, bench press, squats, dumbbell jump squats with raises, dead-lifts and weighted abdominal crunches, with approximately 30 sec of rest in between each exercise (based on the estimated time needed to move from one position to the next). Each participant will move through the circuit 3 times, with 2 to 3 minutes of rest between each round. Intensity will be 6-7 of RPE at the first set, and 9-10 at the third set.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>No-exercise control group | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in Cardiac fat volumes | Cardiac fat volumes will be assessed by means of Magnetic Resonance Imaging | 2 assessment points: at baseline and week 4 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in Vascular function | Vascular function will be assessed by means of Arterial Tonometry | 2 assessment points: at baseline and week 4 | 
| Changes in Cardiorespiratory Function | Cardiorespiratory Function will be assessed on a treadmill test with a 12-lead EKG. Protocol: Modified Bruce (A baseline stage will be added) | 2 assessment points: at baseline and week 4 | 
| Changes in Muscular Strength | Muscular Strength in upper and lower extremities will be assessed by 1 repetition maximum (1RM) test on Bench Press and Leg Press | 2 assessment points: at baseline and week 4 | 
| Changes in Body Composition | Body Composition will be assessed using Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry | 2 assessment points: at baseline and week 4 | 
| Changes in Diet | Diet will be assessed using the ASA24h recall (http://epi.grants.cancer.gov/asa24/) | 5 assessment points: baseline, week 1, 2, 3, and 4 | 
| Changes in Spontaneous Physical Activity | Spontaneous Physical Activity will be assessed using accelerometers Actical. | Baseline and week 4 | 
| Changes in Oxidative stress markers | Blood will be collected and processed in order to assess oxidative stress markers | 5 assessment points: pre-post during session 1, pre-post during session 9, and pre week 4. |