Sex Differences and the Influence of an Active Lifestyle on Adiposity in Patients with McArdle Disease

McArdle disease (glycogenosis-V) is associated with exercise intolerance, however, how it affects an important marker of cardiometabolic health as it is adiposity remains unknown. We evaluated the association between physical activity (PA) and adiposity in patients with McArdle disease. We assessed 199 adults of both sexes (51 McArdle patients (36 ± 11 years) and 148 healthy controls (35 ± 10 years)). Body fat (BF) was determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) method and each patient’s PA was assessed with the International PA Questionnaire (IPAQ). Although body mass index values did not differ between patients and controls, McArdle patients had significantly higher values of BF in all body regions (p < 0.05) and higher risk of suffering obesity (odds ratio (OR): 2.54, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.32–4.88). Male patients had higher BF and obesity risk (OR: 3.69, 95% CI: 1.46−9.34) than their sex-matched controls, but no differences were found within the female sex (p < 0.05). In turn, active female patients had lower trunk BF than their inactive peers (p < 0.05). Males with McArdle seem to have adiposity problems and a higher risk of developing obesity than people without the condition, while female patients show similar or even better levels in the trunk region with an active lifestyle. Therefore, special attention should be given to decrease adiposity and reduce obesity risk in males with McArdle disease.