The research was carried out in 3 stages. Stage 1 was carried out at the Department of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition of the UMB. During the visit, the subjects were provided with detailed information concerning the research and every participant signed a voluntary consent to participate in the research. Furthermore, an interview questionnaire concerning the duration of obesity and past diseases was collected, and an assessment of the status of nutrition based on anthropometric measurements was carried out, and a body composition analysis was performed using the bioelectroimpedance method using the Maltron BioScan 920-2 analyzer. Then, patients were issued a referral for laboratory examinations. Stage 2 was carried out at the Medical Laboratory at the University Clinical Hospital in Bialystok, where blood was taken from the ulnar vein (in the amount of 15ml). The concentrations of the following parameters were determined from the blood serum: fasting glucose, fasting insulin, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol fraction, HDL cholesterol fraction, triglycerides, C-reactive protein (CRP), uric acid, creatinine, and aminotrasferases: alanine (ALT) and aspartate (AST). On the basis of fasting glucose and fasting insulin, the HOMA - IR insulin resistance index was calculated. Stage 3 was carried out at the Maniac Gym Fitness Club in Bialystok, where cardiopulmonary fitness was assessed using the Modified Bruce protocol.
The aim of the research was to assess the impact of the distribution of abdominal fat (subcutaneous SAT and visceral VAT estimated at the height of the navel) on selected metabolic parameters and on specific parameters of cardiopulmonary fitness in terms of people with obesity.