Clinical Characteristics Change and the Heart Rate Variability of Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome in the Weight Loss Program

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a weight loss program, including nutrition education and physical fitness, has a positive effects on heart rate variability (HRV) in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Twelve female volunteers with metabolic syndrome, who aged between 30 and 60 years, and resided at Jiantan, Taiwan, were studied. All subjects participated in the weight loss program for 3 months comprised of the nutrition education and aerobic exercise (three times a week). The blood tests and HRV of subjects were determined, and the data were analyzed statistically using dependent sample t-test. The results of this study showed that the average of the waist circumference and the level of fasting plasma glucose and total cholesterol was significantly reduced in all subjects after having a 3-month weight loss program (P<0.05). Moreover, the three parameter values (total power, high frequency and low frequency) of HRV in those subjects increase significantly, compared to their baseline values (P<0.05). In our study, we concludes that a 3-month weight loss program combined with the nutrition education and aerobic exercise improves the body composition, the value of fasting glucose, the level of total cholesterol and the function of autonomic nervous system in the subjects with metabolic syndrome. Keywords—weight-control program; metabolic syndrome; heart rate variability; nutrition education; aerobic exercise