Heart Rate Variability in Overweight Health Care Students: Correlation with Visceral Fat

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Increased sympathetic activity, decreased parasympathetic activity and sympathovagal imbalance (SVI) has been reported in obese individuals. However, the SVI and its association with visceral fat in overweight health care students have not been explored. Therefore, in the present study, we have assessed heart rate variability (HRV) and its association with visceral fat in overweight health care students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Frequency domain parameters of HRV, body fat distribution and baseline anthropometric parameters were recorded in the control (n=40) and overweight (n=40) individuals. Further, the association of visceral fat with HRV was analysed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in age and height of overweight group and control group (p = 0.732). The baseline heart rate and blood pressure (p<0.001) were higher in the overweight group. Total body fat, subcutaneous fat and visceral fat were higher in the overweight group (p<0.001). Among frequency domain parameter of HRV, LFnu and LF: HF were more in the overweight group (p<0.001). Further, HFnu was less in the overweight group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Sympathovagal imbalance due to increased sympathetic activity and its association with visceral fat was observed in overweight individuals.