Comparison in metabolic fitness between pe and non-pe professor in college

Introduction

It was suggested that economic transition and industrialization reduces physical activity, and thus increased risk in several metabolic disorders [1]. The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between vocational physical activity and metabolic fitness in college professors.

Methods

Sixteen college professor including PE (age= 40, N=8) and non-PE instructors (age= 42, N=8) in same campus participated this study. Weekly exercise time (min) and metabolic fitness including oral gluose tolerance test (OGTT), insulin level, BMI, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels were measured in all subjects.

Results

Despite with different exercise time in both groups, oral glucose tolerance test, blood lipids, and BMI were not different between the PE instructors and non-PE instructors. However, insulin response during OGTT was significantly higher in
the non-PE professors. A significant correlation was observed between weekly exercise time and insulin response (r= 0.73, P= 0.001).

Discussion/Conclusion

These results suggest that the metabolic fitness in the aspect of insulin sensitivity is highly related to vocational physical activity. Additionally, capability to maintain normal glycemic control at early mid-age of physically inactive individual is largely due to pancreatic compensation in insulin output.

References

[1]. Kopelman PG (2000). Obesity as a medical problem. Nature. 404(6778):635-43.