Abstract P240: Increased Aerobic Fitness is associated with Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction in a High Cardiovascular Disease Risk Occupational Cohort Independent of Significant Weight Loss

Abstract

Background: Studies have demonstrated that improving physical fitness is associated with weight loss and improvement in cardio-metabolic risk profile. However, the effect of improvement in aerobic fitness on metabolic risk in the absence of significant weight loss in a high risk working population is poorly understood. We examined efficacy of both weight reduction and increased aerobic fitness on metabolic syndrome in an ongoing multicomponent lifestyle intervention improvement program (My Unlimited Potential (myUP)), among employees of Baptist Health South Florida (BHSF).

Methods: The study population included 158 participants who had at least 2 metabolic risk factors at baseline. An advanced nurse practitioner, registered dietician, exercise physiologist, certified diabetic educator, and registered nurse met with participants to provide one-on-one counseling and fitness training. During the first 12 weeks the multidisciplinary team rigorously supervised participants.

Results: Over the 12 week period, there was a significant increase in METS (median difference 2.7; IQR 1.4 to 3.4 p<0.001). Over the same period the prevalence of metabolic syndrome reduced from 48% to 25% (p <0.001). The increase in METS was greater among those with significant weight loss defined as weight loss at least 5% of baseline body weight (median difference = 1.30, P<0.001). In a fully adjusted logistic regression model, there was markedly significant reduction in the risk of metabolic syndrome at 3 months among those who had shown improvements in fitness alone (OR 0.15, p=0.025) and among those who had both improvements in fitness and significant weight loss (OR 0.14, p=0.030).

Conclusion: Improvements in respiratory fitness as can be seen with exercise, even in the absence of significant weight loss, is associated with significant reduction in cardiometabolic risk. In an intensive lifestyle modification interventional program aimed at CVD risk reduction, emphasis should be placed at increasing physical fitness, not only on weight loss.