Introduction: Most patients with coronary heart disease are overweight or obese. An increased accumulation of fat in the intra abdominal cavity, is highly correlated with adverse coronary risk profiles. Many studies in cardiac rehabilitation setting show that patients who exercise, present an improvement in coronary risk profile, further research is needed to define better program for weight loss and risk improvement in CAD patients. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cardiac rehabilitation program on body composition and body fat distribution in CAD population.

Methods: The study investigated 118 CAD patients (27 females and 91 males) aged 53.83±8.01 years (mean± SD) before and after 2,6 and 12 months of cardiac rehabilitation program. Outcome variables included weight, body mass index, body fat distribution indices such as waist circumference and waist to hip ratio (WHR).

Results: Weight, waist circumference, W/H ratio and BMI significantly decreased after 2 months (supervised program p<0.001) but hip circumference had not significant change. All of measurements did not show significant changes in the end of program (after 12 months).

Conclusions: A 2-month supervised cardiac rehabilitation program was associated with good improvements in body composition and body fat distribution. Men improved to a greater extent than the female patients. The effects of non supervised program were minimal and it needs to be reviewed.

Hakim Research Journal 2005 8(3) 16-24.