Background: Obesity has a bad impact on immune system; on the other hand
moderate exercise increases the resistance to infection. The aim of this study was to
determine the response of complement system to aerobic exercise training in obese
females. Subjects and methods:Thirty obese females participated in this study and
they were divided randomly into two equal groups; the exercise group (group-1)
which received aerobic exercise training for 4 months and the non-exercised group
(group-2) which maintained their ordinary life style. Thirty age-matched non-obese
females were the control group. Measurements of serum complement proteins (C3
and C4) were done at the start and at the end of the study, also the body mass index
(BMI) was calculated at the start and at the end of the study. Results:at the start of
the study; there was a significantly high levels of C3 & C4 in obese compared to the
control (non-obese) females (P=0.000). At the end of the study; there was a
significant decrease in BMI, C3 & C4 in the exercise group compared to the non-exercised group, also there was a significant differences between the measures at the
start and at the end of the study in the exercise group as regards BMI, C3 & C4.
Conclusion: obesity causes changes in the immune system as documented by increase
in C3 & C4 levels. Moderate aerobic exercise produced weight reduction and
decreased the abnormally elevated complement components (C3 & C4) in obese
females; so improving the immune system.