Introduction: African-American women are among those with the highest rates of obesity and
hypertension, while also having low rates of physical activity (PA). While weight loss and PA
have been implicated as lifestyle factors that can reduce blood pressure, the influence of these
lifestyle factors on blood pressure in African-American women is not well studied, and the
existing research has shown inconsistent findings.
Purpose: To examine the relationship between the change in measures of adiposity and resting
systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in overweight and obese non-hypertensive
African-America women. In addition, this investigation will examine the influence of changes in
PA and/or fitness on the relationship between the change in measures of adiposity and the
change in resting SBP and DBP.
Methods: Data from 97 overweight and obese (31.4±4.0 kg/m2), non-hypertensive African-
American women who participated in one of 5 weight control interventions were analyzed for
this study. The behavioral weight control interventions included dietary restriction and/or PA.
Outcome measures included weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, body
composition, PA, and fitness. The hypotheses were tested using linear regression analysis. The
mediation hypothesis was tested using linear regression analysis and separately adjusting for
fitness and PA.
Results: There was a significant reduction in weight (5.0±5.9) systolic (4.4±10.9 mmHg), and
diastolic blood pressure (2.8±7.7 mmHg). The change in SBP was significantly correlated with
change in weight, BMI, waist circumference, and fitness, with the change in DBP significantly
correlated with weight, BMI, waist circumference, PA and fitness. The relationship between
measures of both weight and BMI and resting SBP were fully mediated by the change in either
PA or fitness, with the relationship between change in waist circumference and change in SBP
partially mediated by the change in either PA or fitness. The relationships between DBP and
measures of adiposity were fully mediated by the change in either PA or fitness.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential importance of PA and fitness within the
context of weight control for reducing resting blood pressure in overweight and obese African-
American women.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-04202011-081835 |
| Date | 13 May 2011 |
| Creators | Edmonds, LaShawn Denise |
| Contributors | Elizabeth F. Nagle, Bret H. Goodpaster, John M. Jakicic, Robert J. Robertson |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-04202011-081835/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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