ECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH38
INTRODUCTION: Individual responses to exercise-based weight loss interventions vary widely, even when physical activity volume and intensity are standardised. While phenotypic and psychological factors may contribute to this variability, genetic predisposition may also play a role. This study aims to investigate phenotypic, psychological, and genetic differences between women who did and did not achieve weight loss following a 12-week physical activity intervention. METHODS: 35 metabolically healthy, physically inactive women (age 40.06±8.56 years; BMI 31.94±4.23) completed a 12-week physical activity intervention without dietary modification, based on World Health Organisation recommendations. The program included three 50-minute aerobic sessions per week (brisk walking monitored by heart rate) and two resistance training sessions per week. Body composition was assessed pre- and post-intervention. Participants were classified as responders (n=23) or non-responders (n=12). Psychological status was evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted to assess genetic differences between groups. RESULTS: Responders showed significant reductions in body weight (−3.27±2,86 kg ), BMI (−1.39±1,48 kg/m²), fat mass (−2,00±2,39 kg), visceral fat (−0,39±0,84 %), and waist-to-hip ratio (−0,01±0,02) . In contrast, non-responders showed increases in body weight (2,53±1,93 kg) and fat mass (1,83±1,13 kg). Sleep quality improved in both groups (10,67-11,86 points), while anxiety scores decreased more markedly in responders (1,94 vs 0,20 points). GWAS revealed genetic differences between responders and non-responders. In total, 48 SNPs were identified within gene regions. Among these, four were classified as missense variants, two as 3′UTR variants, one as a synonymous variant, five as 2 kb upstream variants, and one as a 500 bp downstream variant. Nine significant variants were mapped to genes involved in metabolic regulation pathways relevant to obesity (p < 0.001). A missense SNP was identified in WDFY4, while the remaining variants were located in coding or regulatory regions of genes associated with insulin/glucose metabolism (ARFGEF3, SLC2A1, CAMK4, MAP3K14, MAP3K14 SNPs) and inflammation-related metabolic control (IL2RA, WDFY4, CSMD1, LILRB2 SNPs). The remaining significant variants were classified into key signaling pathways (Wnt, NF-κB, calcium, etc.) and immune-related pathways. CONCLUSION: Despite identical exercise exposure, substantial inter-individual variability in weight loss response was observed. Differences in body composition changes, psychological outcomes, and genetic background may underlie heterogeneous responses to exercise. These findings support personalised approaches to physical activity-based weight management.
Read CV Austėja LetukienėECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH38
INTRODUCTION: High intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to improve body composition, inflammatory state and vascular function in individuals with obesity. However, the effects of HIIT on myocardial work (MW) indices remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of HIIT on MW in young women with obesity. METHODS: Twenty-five young women with obesity (class I and II) were randomized to eight weeks of HIIT or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). The HIIT protocol consisted of four 4-minute bouts of walking/running at 85-95% of HRmax, interspersed with 3 minutes of active recovery at 65-75% of HRmax. The MICT protocol consisted of 41 minutes of continuous walking/running at 65-75% of HRmax. Body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness and MW indices (GWI: global work index; GCW: global constructive work; GWW: global wasted work; GWE: global work efficiency) were evaluated before and after the interventions. RESULTS: No significant group × time interactions were observed for MW indices. A significant within-group effect of time was observed in the HIIT group, with a reduction in GWW (Δ= −15.23±41.49 mmHg·%, p= 0.042) and an increase in GWE (Δ= 2.39±2.43%, p= 0.005). In contrast, no significant time effects were detected in the MICT group for GWW (Δ= 4.85±62.28 mmHg·%, p = 0.283) or GWE (Δ = 1.21 ± 2.75%, p = 0.101). No significant time effects were observed in GWI (HIIT: p= 0.854; MICT: p= 0.292) or GCW (HIIT: p= 0.646; MICT: p= 0.396), in either group. Both training protocols reduced body fat, however, only HIIT significantly improved cardiorespiratory fitness. CONCLUSION: HIIT improved GWW and GWE in young women with obesity, suggesting that this aerobic training modality may contribute to enhanced myocardial efficiency in this population.
Read CV Wendell LopesECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH38
INTRODUCTION: Metabolic syndrome is a multicomponent pathophysiological condition that drives phenotypic variability and necessitates integrated corrective approaches aimed at restoring the coherence of carbohydrate and lipid metabolic regulation and maintaining neuroregulatory balance, while acknowledging the leading role of skeletal muscle activity as a physiological modulator of metabolic regulation. METHODS: The effects of 12-week health-oriented aerobic and resistance fitness programs on biochemical markers of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, parameters of autonomic regulation, and the taxonomic structure of the gut microbiome were investigated in women with metabolic syndrome. Biochemical blood parameters were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Molecular analyses included real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing for gut microbiota profiling. RESULTS: The 12-week resistance training intervention was characterized by a more pronounced effect on integrated markers of glycemic control and insulin resistance. In contrast, aerobic muscle work was associated with a more comprehensive favorable metabolic response: in addition to reductions in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, a statistically significant decrease in triglyceride levels (p < 0.05) and a trend toward increased HDL cholesterol were observed. After 12 weeks of a resistance-based health-oriented fitness program, women with metabolic syndrome exhibited statistically significant remodeling of the phylum-level gut microbiome profile. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes increased by 18.4% (p = 0.0001), while Firmicutes decreased by 36.8% (p = 0.02), resulting in a 43.5% reduction in the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio (p = 0.016). The proportion of other taxa declined by 26.8% (p = 0.007), whereas the relative abundance of Actinobacteria remained stable. In contrast, the 12-week aerobic training program did not induce pronounced phylum-level shifts; however, the emergence of Akkermansia muciniphila was detected in fecal samples. CONCLUSION: A comparison of the effects of two health-oriented fitness programs in women with metabolic syndrome demonstrated that personalization of non-pharmacological correction should be based on the dominant metabolic profile. When insulin resistance and impaired glycemic control predominate, greater emphasis on the resistance training component is warranted, whereas in cases of predominant atherogenic dyslipidemia and hypertriglyceridemia, an aerobic training focus appears more appropriate. Overall, the resistance-based fitness program elicited quantitatively pronounced phylum-level restructuring, whereas the aerobic program was associated primarily with qualitative, taxon-specific changes.
Read CV Svitlana DrozdovskaECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH38