The effects of cardiac rehabilitation on changes in anthropometric measurements of obesity among diabetic and non diabetic men with coronary artery disease referred to cardiac rehabilitation

One of the consequences of obesity is coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes. Effective exercise programs for patients with the coronary artery disease is a strategy for decreasing obesity and is expected to help in eventually limiting obesity-associated long-term health. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a physiotherapy and exercise based cardiac rehabilitation on the anthropometric measurements of obesity in the diabetic and non diabetic men. Seventy one 45- to 75-years-old male volunteers with coronary artery disease (32 diabetic & 39 non diabetic patients) participated in 6-8 weeks of moderate intensity aerobic exercise training consisting of 45 min sessions of treadmill، stationary bicycle and arm bicycle. Anthropometric measurements of obesity (body mass index (BMI)، waist circumference، hip circumference، waist to hip ratio and waist to height ratio) were measured at the beginning، in the middle and at the end of exercise sessions in both groups. Following the cardiac rehabilitation program، all of the anthropometric measurements except hip circumference in diabetic patients decreased significantly (P<0. 05). BMI، waist circumference and waist to height ratio increased in non diabetic patients (P<0. 05). Exercise training alone in cardiac rehabilitation program is not sufficient to reduce the anthropometric measurements of obesity in non-diabetic patients.