The main purpose of this work was to determine the potential of hypoxic exposure in obesity. We performed a systematic review of the up-to date studies, which examined the impact of hypoxic exposure in obese population. Finally, we also provide some guidelines for further research of the topic with the main aim of developing mechanicistic research projects that would enhance our understaning of hypoxia-related physiological adaptations in obesity.
Obesity represents one of the world's major public health problems. It is among the main risk factors for developing non-comunicable chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and cancer. In the introduction, besides a short review on the effects of obesity, we also present the impact and effects of physical exercise performed under normoxic conditions on obesity. At the end of introduction we described the phenomenon of hypoxia, its characteristics, physiological consequences and most popular hypoxic/altitude training modalities.
In the main part of the thesis we discussed the findings of up-to-date studies. We present research done in both animal models as well as in humans. Despite the established incomplete correlation between hypoxic exposure and weight loss, we found positive effects of hypoxia on obesity (e.g. fat mass loss & blood pressure reductions) thus it would make sense to further explore this area. At the end of the discussion we provided guidelines for further research work.
Colectively this systematic review elucidated that the greatest potential for the use of hypoxia in obesity is in active hypoxic exposure protocols, as body mass decreases to the greatest extent in such protocols. It also decreases with the combination of active and pasive hypoxic exposure. In addition, we found that blood pressure decreased by a greater percentage in active hypoxic exposure compared to active normoxic exposure. In particular, further research focusing on the use of hypoxia in obesity requires the establishment of a suitable protocols that comprise optimal hypoxic exposure, exercise intensity, duration, mode and periodization of exercise, and a suitable dietary protocol.
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