THE EFFECT OF A PERIOD OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS AFTER QUITTING SMOKING

Seyedeh Soma Zakariaee¹, Nastaran Tajedini^2,*, Leila Rostamian³

¹Lecture, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran - ²Department of Sport Physiology, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran - ³Department of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Introduction: Weight gain and binge eating disorders are one of the consequences of quitting smoking. Inappropriate nutritional patterns and excessive weight gain have been observed during the period of smoking cessation. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of maximum oxygen consumption, lipid and lipoproteins, WHR and BMI, a period of physical activity on the plasma weight of men after quitting smoking.

Methods: This research was semi-experimental. 110 men who were 30-50 years old and voluntarily participated in this study were assumed as samples. The subjects were randomized at approximately 1:1 ratio under the supervision of a project investigator (case group 55 persons and control group 55 persons). Exercise consisted primarily of some plays such as badminton playing, walking, and so on. Exercise duration ranged from 30 minutes at the baseline to 60 minutes at the end of 15 weeks, and intensity of exercise ranged from 50% of heart rate reserve of baseline to 70 % during 15 weeks. Body composition was assessed using the sum of three skin-fold measurement specific for males (chest, abdomen, and thigh) (ACSM 2000). Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) were measured enzymatically using diagnostic kits.

Results: There was a significant decrease in weight (p=0.002), BMI (p=0.001), WHR (p=0.004), Ch (p=0.009), HDL (p=0.045) and LDL (p=0.002) in the case group but no significant decrease was found in VLDL (p=0.09) and TG (p=0.544).

Conclusion: It is postulated that for these measurements, weight increase is inevitable. Exercise without changes in diet produced a significant reduction in weight gain and an increase in BMI (p<0.01). It appears that physical activity and exercise can prevent or manage overweight.