Exercise training at the crossover point improves bodily and cardiorespiratory data but not quality of life in women with metabolic syndrome.

Background: This study investigated the effects of an exercise program at the intensity corresponding to the crossover point of substrate utilization (COP) on anthropometric measures, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e., peak oxygen uptake [V̇O2peak] and peak power output [Ppeak]) in women with metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Methods: Nineteen obese and post-menopausal women with MetS (age: 54.8±8.1 years, body mass: 89.0±12.2 kg, Body Mass Index: 34.5±4.0 kg/m2) followed a 12-week program consisting of three 45-minute sessions per week of cycle ergometer exercise. The imposed exercise intensity corresponded to COP. Before and after the program, HRQoL, V̇O2peak and Ppeak were measured and then compared.
Results: Body mass (89.0±12.2 vs. 86.2±11.0 kg), Body Mass Index (34.5±4.0 vs. 33.4±3.6 kg/m2), waist (106±10 vs. 100±9 cm) and hip (117±11 vs. 114±11 cm) circumferences, waist-to-hip ratio (0.91±0.07 vs. 0.88±0.07), fat mass (43.3±4.6 vs. 41.9±4.6%), fat-free mass (56.7±4.6 vs. 58.2±4.6%), V̇O2peak (16.6±3.4 vs. 18.1±4.1 mL/min/kg) and Ppeak (102±22 vs. 125±27 W) were significantly improved after the exercise program (P<0.05), but HRQoL showed no significant improvement on any subscale (i.e., physical functioning: performance limitation for physical activities including bathing and dressing, role physical: problems with work or other daily activities, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role emotional and mental health; P>0.05).
Conclusions: Although a 12-week exercise program at COP improved anthropometric measures and cardiorespiratory fitness in women with MetS, self-perceived HRQoL did not significantly improve. This finding may be linked to a significant but still insufficient reduction in body mass, probably because COP is too weak exercise intensity to induce important energy expenditure.