Effects of increasing light versus moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on cardiometabolic health in Chinese adults with obesity

Increasing daily physical activity (PA) is a practical way to decrease the risk of cardiometabolic diseases, while the studies on exercise intensity remain limited. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of increasing light PA (LPA) or moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) for 12 weeks on cardiometabolic markers in Chinese adults with obesity. Fifty-three adults were randomly assigned to the 1) control group, 2) LPA group, and 3) MVPA group in free-living settings. The intervention effects on body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiometabolic biomarkers were analysed using a generalized estimated equation model adjusted for baseline values and potential confounders. Compared with the control group, the MVPA group showed improvements in body composition, lipids, C-peptide, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-8, leptin, and E-selectin. A favourable change in triglycerides and E-selectin were observed in the LPA group when compared to the control group. Lastly, improvements in waist circumference, C-reactive protein, and MCP-1 were observed in the MVPA group when compared to those in the LPA group. Although increasing both LPA and MVPA improved certain cardiometabolic biomarkers, the latter may have more benefits. These findings imply that MVPA may reduce cardiometabolic disease risk more effectively than LPA, especially in Chinese adults with obesity.