Effect of short-term reduced physical activity on cardiovascular risk factors in active lean and overweight middle-aged men

Abstract Objectives An experimental reduction in physical activity is a useful tool for exploring the health benefits of physical activity. This study investigated whether similarly-active overweight men show a more pronounced response to reduced physical activity than their lean counterparts because of their atherogenic phenotype (i.e., greater abdominal adiposity). Methods From 115 active men aged 45–64 years, we recruited nine active lean (waist circumference < 84 cm) and nine active central overweight men (waist circumference > 94 cm). Fasting blood samples and responses to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were measured at baseline and following one week of reduced physical activity to simulate sedentary levels (removal of structured exercise and reduced habitual physical activity). Results Glucose and insulin areas under the curve (AUC), CRP, ALT, TAG were all higher in the overweight group and remained so throughout ( P < 0.05). Insulin and glucose AUC responses to an OGTT, as well as fasting triglyceride (TAG) concentrations, increased in both groups as a result of the intervention ( P < 0.05). There was no change in interleukin-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), Tumour Necrosis Factor-α, soluble intracellular adhesion molecule 1, or alanine transaminase (ALT). Conclusion One-week of reduced activity similarly-impaired glucose control and increased fasting TAG in both lean and overweight men. Importantly, in spite of very similar (high) levels of habitual physical activity, central overweight men displayed a poorer profile for various inflammatory and metabolic outcomes (CRP, ALT, TAG, glucose AUC and insulin AUC).