Healthy Obesity through Fitness

Rates of obesity are continuously rising despite efforts to decrease them. The purpose of this study is to show that obese but fit individuals are protected from many adverse health conditions such as metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease as the result of being physically active. This study is designed to assess, independently, the contributions of cardio-respiratory fitness (CRF) and adiposity to the metabolic health of obese individuals. This project will examine how CRF and obesity status interact in influencing how the body uses glucose, fat, and protein 1) during a resting (fasting) state, 2) during moderate intensity exercise, 3) immediately after exercise, and 4) after the consumption of a snack. It is hypothesized that a high fitness level can overcome the metabolic dysfunctions seen in obesity by defending metabolic flexibility. Understanding how fitness can modulate the metabolic impacts of obesity is an important step in developing better strategies to improve the health of patients. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Fabien Basset

Student:

Alicia Baker

Partner:

Progressive Athletics Therapy Health Corporation

Discipline:

Kinesiology

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland