Changes in motor control and muscle performance after a short-term body mass reduction program in obese subjects

Two hundred and thirty obese subjects (age: 18-77 yr, BMI: 31.1-65.8 kg/m(2 )) were studied before and after a 3-week body mass reduction (BMR) program , coupling restricted energy diet (1200-1500 kcal/day) with low intensity e xercise prescription. it involved 5 days per week (consisting of one-hour d ynamic aerobic standing and floor exercise plus 30 min of cycloergometer ex ercise at 60 W or, alternatively, 4 km outdoor leisure walking on flat terr ain) and psychological counseling. One-Leg standing balance test (OLSB) and stair climbing test (SCT) were employed to assess motor control and maxima l lower limb muscle power, respectively. The BMR program induced a signific ant weight loss (4.1%; p < 0.001), a higher reduction of body mass index (B MI) being observed in males than in females (p < 0.001). OLSB performance t ime increased by 20.5% (p < 0.001) after treatment, the improvement being e vident in both genders. A 20.8% reduction in SCT time (p < 0.05) was also o bserved and corresponded to a 13.2% increase (p < 0.001) in average absolut e muscle power and 15.0% increase (p < 0.001) in specific muscle power (i.e . the power output per kg of body mass), with no differences between gender s. In conclusion, in spite of the moderate reduction of body mass after res tricted energy diet and low intensity physical conditioning, significant im provements in motor control and performance, likely to ameliorate the execu tion of simple daily activities, were observed in obese subjects. (J. Endoc rinol. Invest. 24: 393-398, 2001) (C) 2001, Editrice Kurtis.