title: The effects of obesity on functional work capacity and quality of life in phase II cardiac rehabilitation.
abstract: Many patients referred to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs are obese. It is unknown, however, whether obese patients derive reduced benefit from CR. A total of 388 CR patients were categorized into normal-weight, overweight, class I obese, and class II/III obese groups. Functional work capacity and quality of life were examined at baseline and after 12-week completion of the CR program. After adjusting for demographic and medical conditions, class II/III obese persons showed lower work capacity and physical quality of life at both baseline and follow-up. Class II/III obese individuals also showed smaller gains in work capacity from baseline to follow-up than all other groups. Further work is needed to identify strategies for improving outcome in obese patients, including incorporating structured weight loss into CR or post-CR referral to an exercise maintenance program.
authors: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA. jgunstad@kent.edu
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Gunstad
authors: Faith
authors: F
authors: Luyster
authors: Joel
authors: J
authors: Hughes
authors: Donna
authors: D
authors: Waechter
authors: Jim
authors: J
authors: Rosneck
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Josephson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009820:Ohio; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D016896:Treatment Outcome