Zeigler, Zachary

ABSTRACT Purpose We assessed resting central/peripheral blood pressure (BP), postexercise BP, and hemodynamic responses (stroke volume, cardiac output, and systemic vascular resistance) after acute exercise and 2 wk of aerobic training in lean and centrally obese men matched for BP. Methods Eight lean (body mass index < 25 kg·m −2 , visceral fat = 279 ± 224 cm 3 ) and eight centrally obese (body mass index > 30 kg·m −2 , visceral fat = 1471 ± 374 cm 3 ) men performed six training sessions (3 d·wk −1 for 40 min at 65%–70% HR max ). Resting BP and hemodynamic measurements were obtained at baseline, after exercise for 60 min, and at 24 h and 48 h after the last training session. Results Postexercise brachial and central systolic BP (SBP) and mean arterial BP decreased 3–4 mm Hg below resting in lean ( P < 0.001) and increased by 3 mm Hg in obese ( P < 0.02). Posttraining resting brachial/central SBP were reduced by 3–4 mm Hg only in lean men ( P < 0.05). Pretraining postexercise hypotension was significantly correlated with the training-induced change in resting brachial SBP at 48 h ( r = 0.58, P = 0.02), but not at 24 h ( r = 0.38, P = 0.15). Similar correlations were observed between acute reductions in central SBP and central SBP at 24 h ( r = 0.43, P = 0.09) and 48 h ( r = 0.54, P = 0.03) posttraining. Conclusions In contrast to the consistent results for lean men, postexercise hypotension was not observed in centrally obese men, and resting SBP was not reduced after a short aerobic training program. Considerable individual variation in postexercise BP response among obese men may have implications for design of exercise interventions to lower BP in these individuals.