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Summary Objective To determine the influence of the level of physical activity on physical fitness, body composition and lipid profile and further explore the associations between fitness with these health outcomes in a population of overweight/obese adults. Methods Forty overweight/obesity participants with a caloric intake between a negative balance of 500 kcal/day and their estimated required energy intake were classified according to their level of physical activity. Anthropometric (weight and height), body composition (waist-to-hip ratio, percentage of body fat and fat-free mass), clinical measurements (blood pressure), physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness – 6MWT –, handgrip strength and lower-limb muscle strength – MVC –) and lipid profile (total cholesterol – TC –, low – LDL – and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol – HDL –, triglyceride – TG –, and plasma glucose) were determined. Results Significant differences in MVC and fat-free mass were found between participants with different physical level. Significant associations between all the body composition measures and the strength-related variables (handgrip and MVC) in both physical activity categories also were found. In addition, associations between triglycerides, LDL and total cholesterol with muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness were observed only in the low physical activity group. Moreover, MVC explained up to 39% of the variance in metabolic syndrome in those with a moderate level of physical activity. Conclusions Correlations between physical fitness (especially in strength) and health risk factors depending on the level of physical activity were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the implications for diabetes education and health promotion programs. It highlights the use of exercise and therapy to provide a standard care for people who suffer type 2 diabetes (T2DM). It also cites the cost-efficacy of the health promotion programs for the diabetic patients.