Characterization of muscle function, lifestyle and motivational indices in obese women

Chiara Marocco; Vittoria Cella; Lorenzo Innocenti; Viviana Bimonte; Emerenziani Gian Pietro; Edoardo Mocini; Elisabetta Ferretti; Andrea Lenzi; Vincenzo Bonavolontà; Rachele Fornari; Donini Lorenzo Maria; Carlo Baldari; Maurizio Bertollo; Laura Guidetti; Silvia Migliaccio

doi:10.1530/endoabs.70.AEP310

Introduction: Obesity is a chronic metabolic condition characterized by an excess of adipose tissue leading to an increased risk of developingdiseases such as diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular pathologies. Unbalanced nutrition and sedentary lifestyle are among the main influencing factors leading to a reduction in muscle mass, strength and functionality, predisposing obese subjects to sarcopenia and functional disability. Moreover, recent studies suggest the possible presence, in these patients, of alterations in their volition in performing lifestyle actions. Thus, the aim of our study was to evaluate the possible correlations among indices of muscular function (MF), lifestyle and volition.

Methods: Twenty-one obese women (age: 41.8 ± 11.8 years; BMI: 38.2 ± 3.2 kg/m²) were recruited at the High Specialization Center for Obesity Care, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome. After clinical assessment, all subjects were evaluated for: Body composition (BC) by DXA, and for upper and lower limbs indices of MF by Handgrip test (HGT) and Sit to Stand 30s (STS). Furthermore GPAQ, Predimed questionnaire to determine the Mediterranean diet (MeDi)adherence, Volition Exercise Questionnaire (VEQ), Exercise Motivations Inventory (EMI-2), Psychobiosocial States in Physical Education (PBS-SPE), Decisional Balance Inventory (DBI) and physical activity level (PAL) motivational indices were administered, in order to evaluate individual lifestyle. Potential relationships among all variables were analyzed by Pearson correlation.

Results: BCshowed high percentage Fat Mass (40.9 ± 3.4%) and low level of Lean Mass (59,1 ± 4,5%). The results of the T-tests with independent samples showed no significant differences between sedentary and active groups, for questionnaire and motor test variables. Furthermore, correlations indicate a significant relationship between the HGT strength indices and the GPAQ, but not with STS. Finally, the facilitatory volition correlates positively with the STS, while the inhibitory one correlates negatively (R = 0.52; R = −0.39; P < 0.05).

Conclusions: In conclusion, our results indicate that high PAL and good adherence to MeDi do not correlate with the STS, which show indices below normal level. However, it is interesting how STS positively correlates with VEQ. Literature data suggestHGT as the most suitable tool for assessing general muscle strength, but results suggest greater relevance of STS as an indicator of poor MF while also detecting a discrepancy between upper and lower limb MF. Therefore, an interdisciplinary holistic evaluation is essential in obese subjects to define and validate the parameters indicative of health status and muscle functionality.

Endocrine Abstracts

AEP310