A comparative study on effect of obesity on cardiovascular reactivity in young female individuals

Jeewandeep Kaur; Arvinder Pal Singh Batra

Volume : VI, Issue : VI, June - 2016

A comparative study on effect of obesity on cardiovascular reactivity in young female individuals

Jeewandeep Kaur, Arvinder Pal Singh Batra

Abstract :

 Background–Studies have reported that both gender and adiposity influence cardiovascular reactivity amongst adolescents and young adults. However, not much is known about the effect of gender on the association of adiposity with cardiovascular reactivity. Aims and objective: to learn how adiposity affects cardiovascular reactivity amongst young female individuals so as to develop preventive strategies. Material and methods: A cross–sectional study was conducted on 60 girls (normal weight n=30, over weight & Obese n= 30) of age group 18–22 years. Adiposity was assessed in terms of Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC) and waist hip ratio. Rise in Pulse Rate and Rise in systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure during Isometric Handgrip Test were used to assess the cardiovascular reactivity to acute sympathetic stress. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was determined to find the association of adiposity with cardiovascular reactivity. Results: Obese and overweight girls were found to have a significantly larger WC, lower physical fitness and greater rise in SBP& DBP in comparison to girls with normal weight. In both the groups, BMI and Waist Circumference showed significant positive association with DBP and SBP. Conclusions: adiposity affects the cardiovascular reactivity in young female individuals such that girls with overweight and obese tend to have a larger correlation between adiposity and cardiovascular reactivity than girls with normal weight and thus preventive strategies need to be devised to prevent effect of obesity on cardiac vasculature in females