Association of physical activity and heart rate variability in people with overweight and obesity: A systematic review

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a major public health issue globally which is intrinsically linked to reduced heart rate variability (HRV). Physical inactivity and reduced resting HRV are linked to an increased risk of coronary heart disease, while athletes have a greater HRV. However, the exact correlation between physical activity and HRV remains uncertain. This systematic review aims to collect, report, and critically assess the current scientific literature about the association between physical activity and HRV in individuals with higher weight and obesity. Methods: A systematic search was carried out in electronic databases (Medline/PubMed, SCOPUS and CINAHL Plus) to retrieve studies that evaluated the relationship between physical activity and HRV in individuals with higher weight and obesity. Case-control, longitudinal/cohort, cross-sectional and observational studies were included. Using a critical narrative approach, information about the HRV, and physical activity was extracted and synthesized. The study was registered in PROSPERO: CRD42020208018 on October 9 2020. Results: After removing duplicates, 980 title/abstract records were checked for eligibility, and 12 papers were finally included in the narrative synthesis. The included studies contained physical activity as well as HRV in adults with higher weight or obesity with or without comorbidities. A negative relationship between moderate to vigorous physical activity and HRV indices had been found in two studies. There was also a negative relationship between sedentary time and HF (p = 0.049) and LF/HF (p = 0.036), as well as a positive relationship between sedentary time and LF (p = 0.014). Also dose-response association was found between vigorous exercise and higher SDNN, LF power, and HF power in one of the studies. Conclusions: This systematic review revealed a wide range of responses to physical activity and HRV; however, the current evidence uses a variety of approaches to objectively assess physical activity and measure HRV with different equipment.

The Effects of L-Carnitine Supplementation During Concurrent Training on the Functional Capacities and Body Composition in Obese Men

“…18 Regular physical activity had a positive effect on autonomic control of the heart in adults by decreasing the RHR and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with obesity through enhancing autonomic function. 22 It was hypothesized that L-carnitine supplementation would result in a significant reduction in SBP after 4 and 8 weeks and DBP only after 8 weeks of concurrent training in experimental group 1 compared to experimental group 2 and the control group. With the widespread increase in mortality in obese people, more importance has been placed on preventing the disease and finding better ways to manage it.…”

The Association Between Physical Activity/Heart Rate Variability Data Obtained Using a Wearable Device and Timed Motor Functional Tests in Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Pilot Study

“…Finally, we examined the relationship between HRV and various timed motor functional tests ( Table 6 ) because an association between HRV and exercise capacity has been noted in healthy subjects [ 7 ], people with obesity [ 8 ], and heart failure patients [ 9 ]. Time from supine to standing did not correlate with any of the HRV parameters.…”

“…In addition to myocardial damage, sinus tachycardia is often observed in DMD, and has been reported to be due to decreased cardiac parasympathetic activity and/or increased sympathetic activity by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis [ 4–6 ]. Associations between physical exercise and HRV have been reported in healthy children [ 7 ] and patients with pathogenic conditions [ 8, 9 ], but not in patients with DMD.…”