BODY-FAT DISTRIBUTION, BLOOD-PRESSURE AND BLOOD-GLUCOSE IN EGYPTIAN OBESE WOMEN UNDERGOING A WEIGHT CONTROL PROGRAM

In a sample of 92 obese healthy women, 35 of them were chosen to follow a weight control program comprising both caloric restriction and exercise for three months. They were matched for age and weight with the remaining 57 women who also served as a control group. The entire sample was further stratified according to age into two categories of 20-34 and 35-50 years. The caloric supply was restricted to about 1000 kcal/day, in addition to a 1-h session of mild exercise which was performed twice weekly; the subjects' energy expenditure was 2200 kcal/day. Only the mean values of the biceps, triceps, and suprailiac skinfold measurements were significantly decreased (p <0.05) in the younger trained dieters when compared to their counterpart sedentary controls. On the other hand, obvious group variations appeared between body fat distribution when related to body weight and to blood pressure. Blood glucose revealed normal levels in the whole sample. Mean values were numerically lower in the older trained dieters than their matched sedentary controls, while they were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the younger trained dieters. Although blood pressure was in the normal range for all participants, a nonsignificant decrease was recorded for both age groups of the obese trained dieters upon completion of the program. The systolic blood pressure decreased by 5.4 % and the diastolic by 6.7 % regarding the younger age, while the decrease in the older age was 3.5 % for the systolic and 4.8 % for the diastolic blood pressure. It was concluded that, although the trained dieters were still obese, the caloric restriction was promoted synergistically by exercise, leading to a more harmonious fat distribution and to lower normal levels of blood pressure and blood glucose.