Effects of swim training on body weight, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid and lipoprotein profile

Authors: Tanaka H.; Bassett Jr D.R.; Howley E.T.

Source: Clinical Physiology, Volume 17, Number 4, June 1997 , pp. 347-359(13)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

The beneficial effects of regular exercise are primarily based on data using land-based exercise. Currently, no data exist that demonstrate the efficacy of swimming exercise for the treatment of obesity and cardiovascular risk factors, despite the fact that swimming is a widely recommended exercise mode. Eighteen previously sedentary obese individuals were divided into a swim-training group and a non-exercising control group. The training group swam at 60% of maximal heart rate reserve for 45 min per day for 3 days per week for 10 weeks, whereas the control group remained sedentary. The swim-training programme produced significant cardiovascular training effects, as evidenced by reductions (P<0?05) in resting and submaximal heartrate values in the training group. Significant reductions (P<0?05) werealso observed in the rating of perceived exertion and blood lactate concentrations during fixedsubmaximal exercise on an arm cycle ergometer. Caloric and macronutrient intake estimatedfrom the dietary records stayed constant before and after training. Body mass, body fatpercentage (36?2% vs. 35?2%) and body mass index, as well asregional adiposity, showed no statistically significant changes. Neither the training nor thecontrol groups experienced significant changes in fasting serum glucose and insulinconcentrations and glucose-insulin ratio during the study. Total, high-densitylipoprotein (HDL)- and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol did not change significantlyin either group. It was concluded that swim training of the duration, frequency and intensityused in the present study failed to elicit favourable modifications in these traditionalcardiovascular risk factors.

Keywords: cholesterol; exercise training; glucose; insulin; obesity; swimming

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: *

Publication date: 1997-06-01

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• In this Subject: Anatomy & Physiology ,  Pathology
• By this author: Tanaka H. ;  Bassett Jr D.R. ;  Howley E.T.

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