Abstract
It has been demonstrated that leptin concentrations in obese patients may be altered by weight loss. We examined the effects of a 9-week aerobic exercise program on serum leptin concentrations in overweight women (20–50% above ideal body mass) under conditions of weight stability. Sixteen overweight women, mean (SE) age 42.75 (1.64) years, comprised the exercise group which adhered to a supervised aerobic exercise program. A graded exercise treadmill test was conducted before and after the exercise program to determine maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max) using open-circuit spirometry. The women demonstrated improved aerobic fitness (V˙O2max increased 12.29%), however, body fat and the body mass index did not change significantly [42.27 (1.35)–41.87 (1.33)%]. Fourteen women, age 40.57 (2.80) years, did not exercise over the same time period and served as a control group. Serum leptin levels were not significantly altered for either the exercise [28.00 (2.13)–31.04 (2.71) ng · ml−1] or the control group [33.24 (3.78)–34.69 (3.14) ng · mg−1]. The data indicate that 9 weeks of aerobic exercise improves aerobic fitness, but does not affect leptin concentrations in overweight women.
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Accepted: 29 January 1999
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Kraemer, R., Kraemer, G., Acevedo, E. et al. Effects of aerobic exercise on serum leptin levels in obese women. Eur J Appl Physiol 80, 154–158 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004210050572
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004210050572