Acute post-exercise oxygen uptake, hormone and plasma metabolite response in obese men

This study aimed to compare oxygen uptake (V̇O₂), hormone and plasma metabolite responses during the 30min after submaximal incremental exercise (Incr) performed at the same relative/absolute exercise intensity and duration in lean (L) and obese (O) men. Eight L and 8 O men (BMI: 22.9±0.4; 37.2±1.8kg·m^-2) completed Incr and were then seated for 30min. V̇O₂ was monitored during the first 10min and from the 25-30^th minutes of recovery. Blood samples were drawn for the determination of hormone (catecholamines, insulin) and plasma metabolite (NEFA, glycerol) concentrations. Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) magnitude during the first 10min was similar in O and in L (3.5±0.4; 3.4±0.3 liters, respectively, p=0.86). When normalized to percent change (V̇O_2END=100%), % V̇O_2END during recovery was significantly higher from 90-120s in O than in L (p≤0.04). There were no significant differences in catecholamines (p≥0.24), whereas insulin was significantly higher in O than in L during recovery (p=0.01). The time-course of glycerol was similar from 10-30min of recovery (-42% for L; -41% for O, p=0.85), whereas significantly different patterns of NEFA were found from 10-30min of recovery between groups (-18% for L; +8% for O, p=0.03). Despite similar EPOC, a difference in V̇O₂ modulation between groups was observed, likely due to faster initial rates of V̇O₂ decline in L than in O. The different patterns of NEFA between groups may suggest a lower NEFA reesterification during recovery in O, which was not involved in the rapid EPOC component.