AUTHOR=Son Woo-Hyeon , Kwak Yi-Sub , Ha Min-Seong 

TITLE=Physical activity and cardiovascular risk in obese older Korean women: effects on obesity, hypertension, and arterial stiffness

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1580825

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2025.1580825

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=BackgroundWith the global aging population, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases has emerged as a critical public health issue. Obesity, in particular, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as hypertension and arterial stiffness (AS). Regular physical activity (PA) may help mitigate these risks. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PA levels on body composition, blood pressure (BP), and AS in Korean obese older women.MethodsA total of 313 obese older women were enrolled and classified into an inactive group (ING, n = 160) and an active group (AG, n = 153) based on their levels of PA. Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis, BP measured with an automated sphygmomanometer, and AS was evaluated by measuring carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). Differences between the groups were analyzed using independent sample t-tests, and correlation analyses were conducted to examine relationships among key variables.ResultsThe active group exhibited significantly lower body fat percentage, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and cfPWV (all p < 0.001) compared to the inactive group, while skeletal muscle mass was significantly higher (p < 0.05). Furthermore, significant positive correlations were observed between body fat percentage and SBP, as well as between SBP and AS.ConclusionThese findings demonstrate that regular PA is associated with improved body composition and reductions in both BP and AS in obese older women. The results underscore the importance of promoting PA as a preventive strategy against CVD in the aging population. Further research is warranted to explore the effects of various intensities and types of PA on vascular health and metabolic function.