Keywords

African Americans, exercise, heart diseases, metabolic diseases, physical fitness, women

Authors

1. Joseph, Rodney P. PhD
2. Ainsworth, Barbara E. PhD, MPH
3. Vega-Lopez, Sonia PhD
4. Adams, Marc A. PhD, MPH
5. Todd, Michael PhD
6. Gaesser, Glenn A. PhD
7. Keller, Colleen PhD

Abstract

Background: Low moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels and obesity are associated with increased cardiometabolic disease risk.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe MVPA and cardiometabolic risk characteristics of insufficiently active African American women with obesity (N = 60) enrolled in a culturally tailored MVPA intervention.

Methods: We assessed accelerometer-measured and self-reported MVPA, blood pressure, serum lipid profiles, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂ peak), and aortic pulse wave velocity.

Results: Participants (mean age, 38.4; mean body mass index, 40.6 kg/m²) averaged 15 min/d of accelerometer-measured MVPA and 30 min/wk of self-reported MVPA. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were elevated (135.4 and 84.0 mm Hg, respectively). With the exception of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (121.4 mg/dL) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (47.6 mg/dL), lipid profiles were within reference ranges. Compared with normative reference values, average VO₂ peak was low (18.7 mL/kg/min), and pulse wave velocity was high (7.4 m/s).

Conclusions: Our sample of insufficiently active African American women with obesity was at an elevated risk for cardiometabolic disease.