Effect of obesity onset on pendular energy transduction at spontaneous walking speed: Prader–willi versus nonsyndromal obese individuals. (13th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Malatesta, Davide; Vismara, Luca; Menegoni, Francesco; Grugni, Graziano; Capodaglio, Paolo
• Is Part Of: Obesity. Volume 21:Number 12(2013:Dec.)
• Page Start: E586
• Page End: E591
• Publication Date: 2013-06-13
• Subjects: Obesity -- Periodicals; 616.398005
• DOI: 10.1002/oby.20455
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1930-7381

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="oby20455-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To compare the mechanical external work (<italic>W</italic><sub>ext</sub>) and pendular energy transduction (<italic>R</italic><sub>step</sub>) at spontaneous walking speed (<italic>S</italic><sub>s</sub>) in individuals with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) versus subjects with nonsyndromal obesity (OB) to investigate whether the early onset of obesity allows PWS subjects to adopt energy conserving gait mechanics.</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20455-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design and Methods</title> <p> <italic>W</italic> <sub>ext</sub> and <italic>R</italic><sub>step</sub> were computed using kinematic data acquired by an optoelectronic system and compared in 15 PWS (BMI = 39.5 ± 1.8 kg m<sup>−2</sup>; 26.7 ± 1.5 year) and 15 OB (BMI = 39.3 ± 1.0 kg m<sup>−2</sup>; 28.7 ± 1.9 year) adults matched for gender, age and BMI and walking at <italic>S</italic><sub>s</sub>.</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20455-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p> <italic>S</italic> <sub>s</sub> was significantly lower in PWS (0.98 ± 0.03 m s<sup>−1</sup>) than in OB (1.20 ± 0.02 m s<sup>−1</sup>; <italic>P</italic> < 0.001). There were no significant differences in <italic>W</italic><sub>ext</sub> per kilogram between groups (PWS: 0.37 ± 0.04 J kg<sup>−1</sup> m<sup>−1</sup>; OB: 0.40 ± 0.05 J kg<sup>−1</sup> m<sup>−1</sup>; <italic>P</italic> = 0.66) and in <italic>R</italic><sub>step</sub> (PWS: 69.9 ± 2.9%; OB: 67.7 ± 2.4%; <italic>P</italic> = 0.56). However, <italic>R</italic><sub>step</sub> normalized to Froude number (<italic>R</italic><sub>step</sub>/<italic>Fr</italic>) was significantly greater in PWS (6.0 ± 0.6) than in OB (3.8 ± 0.2; <italic>P</italic> = 0.001). Moreover, <italic>R</italic><sub>step</sub>/<italic>Fr</italic> was inversely correlated with age of obesity onset (<italic>r</italic> = −0.49; <italic>P</italic> = 0.006) and positively correlated with obesity duration (<italic>r</italic> = 0.38; <italic>P</italic> = 0.036).</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20455-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Individuals with PWS seem to alter their gait to improve pendular energy transduction as a result of precocious and chronic adaptation to loading.</p> </sec> </abstract>