Hemostatic and inflammatory markers in obese youths: Effects of exercise and adiposity

Objectives: To determine the relation of hemostatic markers to cardiovascular fitness and adiposity and the effect of physical training (PT) on these markers. Study design: Seventy-four obese teenagers were randomly assigned to 8 months of lifestyle education (LSE), LSE plus moderate-intensity PT, or LSE plus high-intensity PT. Measures included fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), fitness, percent body fat (%BF), and visceral adiposity (VAT). Results: At baseline, fibrinogen and CRP were significantly correlated with %BF and VAT (0.27 ≤ r ≤ 0.51), and fitness (r = -0.39, r = -0.43, respectively); PAI-1 with %BF (r = 0.30) and VAT (r = 0.48); D-dimer with fitness (r = -0.24). Although PT produced significant changes in fitness and adiposity, there were no significant group differences in the hemostatic markers. Change in PAI-1 was significantly correlated with its baseline value (r = -0.47) and change in %BF (r = 0.38). Changes in D-dimer and CRP were significantly correlated with their respective baseline values (r = -0.68, r = -0.48, respectively). Conclusions: Unfavorable levels of fitness and adiposity were associated with higher levels of hemostatic markers, putting individuals with this profile at greater risk for future cardiovascular disease. No evidence was provided that 8 months of PT had a direct influence on these markers in obese youths.