Equilíbrio postural e obesidade

Abstract

Obesity is a health problem worldwide and projections of the World Health Organizations provide significant improves in rates for the coming years. Together with health problems related to obesity there are significant evidence that postural balance is also affected, which can lead limitations on activities of daily living. Purpose: Dissertation was divided in two research papers, each with different purposes: 1) To verify the influence of obesity on postural balance; and 2) To verify the influence of a treatment for weight reducing on obese individual s postural balance. Material and Method: The first paper s sample were composed by 48 overweight and obese individuals with mean age of 49,04 ± 8,59 years, mean height of 163,28 ± 5,58 cm and mean weight of 92,97 ± 16,49 kg. Fifteen women of that sample performed treatment for weight loss, composed by aerobic and anaerobic exercises three times a week and dietary guidelines once a week, during 12 weeks. They composed the second paper s sample and had mean age of 48,93 ± 7,04 years, mean height of 161,63 ± 4,57 cm and mean weight of 85,51 ± 10,58 kg. Were collected anthropometric data related to obesity level, like body mass, height, body mass index and waist circumference, and data related to postural balance with a force platform AMTI (Advanced Mechanical Technologies, Inc.) and foam-laser dynamic posturography, before and after proposed training. Results: Study results showed that the anthropometric variables did not change and only one postural balance variable significantly improved after treatment in a situation with closed eyes. After division in groups according body mass index (overweight group = GSP; obesity I group = GO I; obesity II group = GO II; obesity III group = GO III) was found better postural balance for GO III and worse postural balance for GO II. Was found significant moderate associations between postural balance values and obesity indicators, when removed GO III of analysis, denoting better postural balance for individuals with smaller obesity levels. Conclusions: Training performed improved only one of analyzed balance variables and individuals with higher body mass index have better postural balance than other individuals. There are a negative linear association between postural balance and obesity in individuals that composed groups GSP, GO I and GO II.