Comparative Evaluation of Cardiovascular Responses to Isotonic Exercise in Obese and Non-Obese Young Adults: A Case-Control Study

Background: Obesity is associated with altered autonomic regulation and increased cardiovascular risk. Exercise-induced cardiovascular responses provide an important assessment of cardiovascular fitness and autonomic balance. The objective is to evaluate cardiovascular responses to isotonic exercise in obese and non-obese healthy young adults. Material and Methods: A case-control study was conducted among 60 healthy subjects aged 18–22 years. Thirty obese subjects (BMI ≥25 kg/m²) were compared with thirty normal-weight controls (BMI 18.5–22.9 kg/m²). Participants performed isotonic exercise using a bicycle ergometer for five minutes. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded at baseline, immediately after exercise, and during recovery. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-test with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Baseline HR was higher in obese subjects (75.17 ± 7.3 bpm) compared to controls (72.87 ± 7.1 bpm). Following isotonic exercise, HR increased significantly in both groups. Recovery HR remained elevated longer in obese subjects, indicating delayed autonomic recovery. Conclusion: Obese young adults demonstrate exaggerated cardiovascular responses and delayed recovery following isotonic exercise, suggesting impaired autonomic regulation.

Keywords: Isotonic exercise; obesity; cardiovascular response; autonomic function; heart rate recovery.