The effect of aerobic exercise training on leptin and pulmonary function tests during weight loss in men withvisceral obesity

Background and aims: It has recently been documented that obesity is a global problem in all age groups, so that it affects about ۲۵۰million people in the world, accounting for ۷% of the world’s population. Adipose tissue has an important role in inducing lung dysfunctionthrough production and secretion of adipokines such as leptin. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a period of aerobictraining on lung function indices and serum leptin levels in obese men.Methods: A total of ۲۳ untrained obese men in Arak were recruited voluntarily for the study and randomly assigned to obese aerobictraining group (Ob-AT, n = ۱۲) (۴۵.۲۶ ± ۲.۴۵ years, body mass index (BMI) of ۳۱.۸۱ ± ۰.۷۷ kg/m۲) and obese control group (Ob-Cnt, n = ۱۱)(۴۷.۰۳ ± ۳.۳۶ years, BMI of ۳۱.۴۵ ± ۰.۹۶ kg/m۲). Another normal control group (No-Cnt, n = ۹) was sampled from individuals with normalweight to compare at the base level (۴۵.۱ ± ۴.۱ years, BMI of ۲۴.۶۳ ± ۰.۴۵ kg/m۲). The obese exercise group participated in ۱۲ weeks ofprogressive aerobic training, ۳ sessions a week, ۱.۵ hours per session. Body composition (CT scan), leptin levels and lung function weremeasured before and after exercise protocol.Results: The participants with normal weight had significantly lower leptin concentration (P = ۰.۰۱) and a higher lung function (P = ۰.۰۱۶)compared to the obese participants. Moreover, the results indicated that leptin and obesity had an inverse correlation with lung functionindices (forced vital capacity [FVC] and forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV۱]) (P ≤ ۰.۰۵). After the aerobic activity, obesity (BMI,WHR, body fat) and lung function indices (FVC and FEV۱) significantly decreased in the obese aerobic training group compared to theobese control group (P ≤ ۰.۰۵). In contrast, leptin concentration significantly decreased after the aerobic exercise protocol (P = ۰.۰۱۸).Conclusion: We found that leptin level decreased after ۱۲ weeks of aerobic exercise in obese men and this decrease was associated withthe increased lung function and profound changes in body fat. The obtained data suggest that ۱۲-week aerobic exercise causes alterationsin leptin level that plays a key role in improving lung function.