title: The effect of overweight/obesity on cardiovascular responses to acute psychological stress in men aged 50-70 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To determine the effect of adiposity in males aged 50-70 years on cardiovascular responses to acute psychological stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lean (BMI 20-25 kg/m(2)) (n = 21) and overweight/obese (BMI 27-35 kg/m(2)) (n = 21) men aged 50-70 years were subjected to psychological stress. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, total peripheral resistance, and cardiac output were measured by a Finometer during resting (60 min), stress (30 min), and recovery (90 min).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lean group had a significantly higher SBP stress reactivity when compared to the overweight/obese group (51.5 ± 3.7% vs. 41.0 ± 2.9% (mean ± SEM) ; p < 0.05). A significant effect of time was observed for systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, total peripheral resistance, and cardiac output (p < 0.0001 for all). There were significant time × body type interactions for systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, total peripheral resistance, and cardiac output (p < 0.05 for all). Total peripheral resistance during recovery was higher in the lean compared to the overweight/obese group (p < 0.05). In the lean group, systolic and diastolic blood pressure variability remained elevated after stress (p < 0.05) but returned to resting levels in the overweight/obese group (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moderate adiposity in men was associated with reduced systolic blood pressure % reactivity, total peripheral resistance, and blood pressure variability after psychological stress. Overweight/obese men appear to be at no greater risk of unfavorable cardiovascular responses to stress.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Anne I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Sisitha U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Jayasinghe
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Caryl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Nowson
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002302:Cardiac Output; D006339:Heart Rate; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D050177:Overweight; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014655:Vascular Resistance