INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a metabolic disease that is characterized by a multifactorial etiology, which induces fat accumulation, oftentimes leading to morbid conditions or even death. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to verify the effects of a pulmonary rehabilitation program over respiratory mechanics, functional capacity, and life quality of 20 sedentary obese women aging in average 48.75 ± 13.71 e IMC de 34.54 ± 3.85 kg/m². MATERIALS AND METHODS: The volunteers were submitted to an interview using the SF-36 questionnaire as a tool in order to determine the quality of life, take body mass measures, as well as stature, thoracic-abdominal cytometry, minute and volume tidal, slow vital capacity, and maximum and minimum inspiratory pressure. The comparison of results before and after the implementation of the pulmonary rehabilitation Program were tested by a paired Student's t-test, having been noted a p < 0.05 value. RESULTS: The results after the program were statistically significant (p < 0.05) for minute volume of 11008.30 ± 5035.53 mL (p = 0.001), volume tidal of 758.70 ± 345.78 mL (p = 0.023), slow vital capacity with 632.95 ± 852.25 mL (p = 0.001), maximum inspiratory pressures with -69.75 ± 21.37 cmH2O (p = 0.045) and maximum expiratory pressure with 74.50 ± 28.23 cmH2O (p = 0.000), and in the perception of life quality concerning the general health condition 76.5 ± 14.04 (p = 0.033), social aspects 83.1 ± 18.71 (p = 0.031), emotional aspects 88.4 ± 19.52 (p = 0.042), and in mental health 83.4 ± 14.81 (p = 0.049). CONCLUSION: The pulmonary rehabilitation program here proposed managed to promote positive effects, improving respiratory mechanics and life quality of sedentary obese women.
Obesity; Respiratory mechanics; Pulmonary rehabilitation; Physical exercise; Life quality