The Impact of the Weight Status on Cardiovascular Parameters Related to Physical Effort in Young Athletes

Gabriele Mascherini, Cristian Petri, Laura Stefani, Loira Toncelli, Vittorio Bini, Piergiuseppe Calà and Giorgio Galanti
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Gabriele Mascherini: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Cristian Petri: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Laura Stefani: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Loira Toncelli: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Vittorio Bini: Dipartimento di Medicina, Università di Perugia, 06156 Perugia, Italy
Piergiuseppe Calà: Sector “Health and safety in the workplace and special processes in the field of prevention”, Directorate of Citizenship Rights and Social Cohesion, Tuscany Region, 50139 Florence, Italy
Giorgio Galanti: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: Excess weight leads to an impaired cardiovascular response to physical exertion even at a young age. Sports training during youth promotes cardiovascular adaptations. The aim of the study is to verify the impact of weight status on cardiovascular parameters related to physical effort in young people who engage in competitive sports. A retrospective study was conducted on 8307 young athletes (5578 males and 2729 females) aged 6–18 years (mean age 13.9 ± 2.2 years). The data concerning graded exercise tests of young athletes in normal weight and overweight were compared. Approximately, 13.4% of the sample had excess weight. Young overweight athletes show a higher resting heart rate as well as systolic and diastolic pressure than young normal weight athletes. Excess weight condition leads to a reduction in the duration of the graded exercise test, reaching higher blood pressure values at the end of the test compared to those with normal weight. After four min from the end of the test, heart rate and systolic/diastolic blood pressure remained higher in the young overweight athletes. Excess weight affects cardiovascular parameters both at rest and in response to physical exertion during youth; however, competitive sport seems to be able to keep these parameters within the normal range even in young overweight athletes.

Keywords: youth; overweight; competitive sport; exercise test; obese; heart rate; incremental test; blood pressure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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