Short-term changes of fatigability and muscle performance in severe obese patients after an integrated body mass reduction program

The effects of a short-term (3-week) integrated body weight reduction (BWR) program on fatigue perception and on lower limb anaerobic power output were evaluated in 200 severely obese in-patients (40 males and 160 females, age: 18-83 yr, BMI: 35.0-65.3 kg/m ²). Fatigue was assessed by a 7-point Likert-type scale questionnaire (Fatigue Severity Scale, FSS), while average lower limb power output (W) during a maximal effort was determined with a modification of the Margaria test for stair climbing. In both genders, total FSS score was influenced by both age and obesity level, resulting significantly (p45 yr) and in patients with lower BMI (2) than in those with a higher one (>40 kg/m ²). An opposite trend was observed in W. The 3-week BWR integrated program with moderate aerobic exercise and free standing and ground gymnastic routines induced a significant reduction in body weight (p