Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

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

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two hundred and thirty obese subjects (age: 18–77 yr, BMI: 31.1–65.8 kg/m2) were studied before and after a 3-week body mass reduction (BMR) program, coupling restricted energy diet (1200–1500 kcal/day) with low intensity exercise prescription. It involved 5 days per week (consisting of one-hour dynamic aerobic standing and floor exercise plus 30 min of cycloergometer exercise at 60 W or, alternatively, 4 km outdoor leisure walking on flat terrain) and psychological counseling. One-leg standing balance test (OLSB) and stair climbing test (SCT) were employed to assess motor control and maximal lower limb muscle power, respectively. The BMR program induced a significant weight loss (4.1%; p<0.001), a higher reduction of body mass index (BMI) being observed in males than in females (p<0.001). OLSB performance time increased by 20.5% (p<0.001) after treatment, the improvement being evident in both genders. A 20.8% reduction in SCT time (p<0.05) was also observed and corresponded to a 13.2% increase (p<0.001) in average absolute 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 genders. In conclusion, in spite of the moderate reduction of body mass after restricted energy diet and low intensity physical conditioning, significant improvements in motor control and performance, likely to ameliorate the execution of simple daily activities, were observed in obese subjects.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Blix G.G., Blix A.G. The role of exercise in weight loss. Behav. Med. 1995, 21: 31–39.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Hunter G.R., Weinsier R.L., Bamman M.M., Larson D.E. A role for high intensity exercise on energy balance and weight control. Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 1998, 22: 489–493.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Westerterp K.R. Obesity and physical activity. Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 1999, 23: 59–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kraemer W.J., Volek J.S., Clark K.L., Gordon S.E., Puhl S.M., Koziris L.P., McBride J.M., Triplett-McBride N.T., Putukian M., Newton R.U., Hakkinen K., Bush J.A., Sebastianelli W.J. Influence of exercise training on physiological and performance changes with weight loss in men. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 1999, 31: 1320–1329.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Vellas B.J., Rubenstein L.Z., Ousset P.J., Faisant C., Kostek V., Nourhashemi F., Allard M., Albarede J.L. One-leg standing balance and functional status in a population of 512 community-living elderly persons. Aging 1997, 9: 95–98.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ekdal C., Jarnlo G.B., Andersson S.I. Standing balance in healthy subjects. Evaluation of a quantitative test battery on a force platform. Scand. J. Rehabil. Med. 1989, 21: 187–195.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Suni J.H., Oja P., Laukkanen R.T., Miilunpalo S.I., Pasanen M.E., Vuori I.M., Vartiainen T.M., Bös K. Health-related fitness test battery for adults: aspects of reliability. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 1996, 77: 399–405.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Suni J.H., Oja P., Miilunpalo S.I., Pasanen M.E., Vuori I.M., Bös K. Health-related fitness test battery for middle-aged adults: association with physical activity patterns. Int. J. Sports Med. 1999, 20: 183–191.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hahn T., Foldspang A., Vestergaard E., Ingemann- Hansen T. One-leg standing balance and sport activity. Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports 1999, 9: 15–18.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Goldie P.A., Evans O.M., Bach T.M. Steadiness in one-legged stance: development of a reliable force-platform testing procedure. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 1992, 73: 348–354.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Cohen H., Blatchly C.A., Gombash L.L. A study of the clinical test of sensory interaction and balance. Phys. Ther. 1993, 73: 351–354.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Margaria R., Aghemo P., Rovelli E. Measurement of muscular power (anaerobic) in man. J. Appl. Physiol. 1966, 21: 1662–1664.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Francis K. Methods of anaerobic power assessment. Phys. Ther. 1987, 67: 270–275.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Balogun J.A., Akindele K.A., Nihinlola J.O., Marzouk D.K. Age-related changes in balance performance. Disabil. Rehabil. 1994, 16: 58–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Huskey T., Mayhew J.L., Ball T.E., Arnold M.D. Factors affecting anaerobic power output in the Margaria-Kalamen test. Ergonomics 1989, 32: 959–965.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Bohannon R.W., Larkin P.A., Cook A.C., Gear J., Singer J. Decrease in time balance test scores with aging. Phys. Ther. 1984, 64: 1067–1070.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Kitagawa K., Suzuki M., Miyashita M. Anaerobic power of young obese men: comparison with non-obese men and the role of excess of fat. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 1980, 43: 229–234.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Hill A.V. The heat of shortening and dynamic constants of muscle. Proc. Royal Soc. 1938, 126: 136–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio Sperimentale di Ricerche Endocrinologiche (LSRE), Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Via Ariosto 13, 20145, Milano, Italy

    Alessandro Sartorio

  2. Division of Metabolic Diseases III, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Piancavallo (VB), Milan, Italy

    Alessandro Sartorio & G. Conte

  3. Institute of Advanced Biomedical Technologies, CNR, Milan, Italy

    C. L. Lafortuna

  4. Institute of Endocrine Sciences, University of Milan, Ospedale Maggiore, Milan, Italy

    G. Faglia

  5. Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Metropolitan University of Manchester, Alsager, UK

    M. V. Narici

Authors
  1. Alessandro Sartorio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. L. Lafortuna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. Conte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Faglia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. V. Narici
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alessandro Sartorio.

Additional information

This study was partially supported by Progetti di Ricerca Corrente (grant no. 05C907), Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sartorio, A., Lafortuna, C.L., Conte, G. et al. Changes in motor control and muscle performance after a short-term body mass reduction program in obese subjects. J Endocrinol Invest 24, 393–398 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03351039

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03351039

Keywords

Search

Navigation