Differential Response in Arterial Stiffness Measures Between Obese and Normal Weight Individuals

Acute exercise appears to have positive influence on arterial function during the recovery period, yet the effect of obesity is poorly understood in recovery. We examined the effects of an acute bout of exercise on arterial function in obese versus healthy weight individuals. Young (23 yr), lean (n=38, BMI=22.3 kg/m 2 ) and obese (n=20, BMI=34.0 kg/m 2 ) individuals had arterial measurements obtained at rest, and 15 and 30 min following a maximal bout of aerobic exercise. Arterial tonometry and ultrasound were used to obtain central BP, arterial compliance and stiffness (beta stiffness, elastic modulus (Ep), and central pulse wave velocity (PWV)). Despite similar central mean BP, the obese group had higher cPWV following exercise. Beta stiffness and Ep responded similarly to exercise between groups. Arterial compliance was higher in obese but the response in recovery was similar between groups. Lean Obese Pre 15‐min post 30‐min post Pre 15‐min post 30‐min post Mean aortic BP 82 83 82 87 86 87 Central PWV 5.67 5.46 5.35 5.84 6.11 6.16 Beta Stiffness 5.89 6.34 5.78 4.88 6.04 5.31 Elastic Modulus 69 75 67 67 78 66 In this young cohort, obesity was associated with increased central arterial stiffness, independent of BP, but higher arterial compliance. This suggests that measures of arterial stiffness provide differential information potentially associated with where in the arterial tree measures were made.