Key result
Waist-to-height ratio ≥0.5 linked to ~10 bpm higher resting HR and slower recovery in young men.
Why the study?
Whether a waist-to-height ratio above 0.5 is associated with altered cardiac autonomic control at rest, during exercise, and post-exercise recovery in young men remains unclear.
Does a waist-to-height ratio ≥ 0.5 alter cardiac autonomic control at rest, during exercise, and post-exercise recovery in young men?
Cross-Sectional (n=31)
Does a waist-to-height ratio ≥ 0.5 alter cardiac autonomic control at rest, during exercise, and post-exercise recovery in young men?
Absolute Event Rate: 81% vs 71%
p-value: p=0.014
Young men with a waist-to-height ratio ≥ 0.5 exhibit impaired baseline cardiac autonomic control and slower post-exercise recovery, highlighting early signs of elevated cardiometabolic risk.
Hypothesis-generating for early cardiometabolic risk in young men; prospective studies needed before clinical adoption.
A waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) above 0.5 is considered a threshold for elevated cardiometabolic risk. However, whether this cutoff is associated with altered cardiac autonomic control at rest, during exercise, and throughout post-exercise recovery remains unclear. This study compared cardiac autonomic indexes between young men categorized according to WHtR. Thirteen young men (24.8 ± 4.4 years) with WHtR ≥ 0.5 (G1) and 18 age-matched men (23.1 ± 4.1 years) with WHtR < 0.5 (G2) performed a maximal graded exercise test on a treadmill. Heart rate and heart rate variability measurements were taken at rest, during exercise, and throughout recovery using a portable cardiac monitor. At rest, G1 exhibited higher resting heart rate (81 ± 13 vs. 71 ± 8 bpm; P = 0.014) and lower parasympathetic activity (P < 0.05) compared with G2. During exercise, the percentage of chronotropic response did not differ between groups (G1: 92 ± 7% vs. G2: 95 ± 7%; P = 0.233). On post-exercise recovery, G1 had decreased heart rate recovery after 300 s (G1: 60 ± 8 bpm vs. G2: 69 ± 8 bpm; P = 0.007) and decreased cardiac parasympathetic reactivation (P < 0.05) compared with G2. Overall, young men with high and low WHtR exhibit similar chronotropic responses to maximal exercise, but individuals with high WHtR have impaired baseline cardiac autonomic control and slower post-exercise cardiac autonomic recovery.
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Ferreira et al. (2026) reported a cross-sectional. Waist-to-height ratio ≥ 0.5 vs. Waist-to-height ratio < 0.5 was evaluated on Resting heart rate (p=0.014). Young men with a waist-to-height ratio ≥0.5 had higher resting heart rate (81 vs 71 bpm; P=0.014) and slower heart rate recovery (60 vs 69 bpm; P=0.007) than those with a ratio <0.5.
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