Acute Response of Blood Lipids and Lipoproteins to Different Intensities of Exercise in Obese Males

This study aimed to examine the response of lipid and lipoprotein levels following different intensities of exercise in obese males. Fifteen obese (body mass index > 30 kg/m2), sedentary (less than 2 days per week of physical activity) males, aged 18–30 years, participated in this randomized, cross-over study. The participants performed a single bout of cycling exercise (average energy expenditure: ~300 kcal) at two different intensities [lower-intensity: 50% of maximal heart rate and higher-intensity: 80% of maximal heart rate] in a random order. Overnight fasting blood samples were collected at baseline, immediately post-exercise (IPE), 1-hr PE, and 24-hr PE for each intensity of exercise to determine the profile of blood lipids and lipoproteins [total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)]. A 2(intensity) × 4(time) analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to examine the main and interaction differences in intensity and time on the profile of blood lipids and lipoproteins. The blood lipids and lipoproteins were not significantly altered following either lower or higher intensity exercise. There was no significant interaction between intensity and time. The results suggest that regardless of exercise intensity, an acute bout of aerobic exercise requiring 300 kcal energy expenditure may not be enough to significantly alter blood lipids and lipoproteins in physically healthy obese males. Therefore, it is recommended that future research determine whether different intensities of chronic exercise requiring the same or higher volume of energy expenditure can positively alter the blood lipid profiles in obese males.