Comparison of Fitness and Physical Activity Levels of Obese People with Hypertension

Abstract

This study assessed the relationships between the current level of physical activity (PA) and PA in childhood and the level of physical fitness (PF) of obese people aged 40+ with co-existing hypertension (HT). The study included 82 obese patients with co-existing HT in their history. In order to assess the level of PA, we used the IPAQ. PF was assessed by observing the performance of patients in a fitness test (a 30-s chair stand, a handgrip strength test, a sit-and-reach test, a one leg stand test, a plank test, a wall squat test, and a 2-min step-in-place test). According to the IPAQ category, 24.4% were classified as having a high level of PA, 45.1% a sufficient level of PA, and 30.5% an insufficient level of PA. We noted that the higher the level of PA, the higher the PF—even in obese participants with HT. On the other hand, co-existing diabetes lowered almost all analysed parameters, both biochemical and fitness. The current PA level, a deficiency in which seems to be related to low PF and/or HT, does seem to be related to the degree of PF.

Keywords

• physical activity
• physical fitness
• obese people
• hypertension
• diabetes