Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Among Insufficiently Active African American Women With Obesity: Baseline Findings From Smart Walk

Background Low moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels and obesity are associated with increased cardiometabolic disease risk. Objective The aim of this study was to describe MVPA and cardiometabolic risk characteristics of insufficiently active African American women with obesity (N = 60) enrolled in a culturally tailored MVPA intervention. Methods We assessed accelerometer-measured and self-reported MVPA, blood pressure, serum lipid profiles, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 peak), and aortic pulse wave velocity. Results Participants (mean age, 38.4; mean body mass index, 40.6 kg/m2) averaged 15 min/d of accelerometer-measured MVPA and 30 min/wk of self-reported MVPA. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were elevated (135.4 and 84.0 mm Hg, respectively). With the exception of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (121.4 mg/dL) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (47.6 mg/dL), lipid profiles were within reference ranges. Compared with normative reference values, average VO2 peak was low (18.7 mL/kg/min), and pulse wave velocity was high (7.4 m/s). Conclusions Our sample of insufficiently active African American women with obesity was at an elevated risk for cardiometabolic disease.