Effect of 12-Month Resistance Training on Changes in Abdominal Adipose Tissue and Metabolic Variables in Patients with Prediabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective To examine the effects of resistance training relative to aerobic training on abdominal adipose tissue and metabolic variables in adults with prediabetes. Methods 105 participants with prediabetes were randomized into the resistance training group (RT, n = 35), aerobic training group (AT, n = 35), and control group (CG, n = 35). The participants completed supervised 12-month exercise; the control group followed the primary lifestyle without exercise intervention. The primary outcomes were visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) measured by computed tomography (CT). Secondary outcomes were body composition, lipid profile, and metabolic variables. Results A total of 93 participants completed the study. There were nonsignificant differences between groups before intervention. After training, VAT decreased significantly in AT and RT compared with CG (P = 0.001 and P = 0.014, respectively). Although no significant difference in SAT was found across groups, SAT decreased significantly over time within each exercise group (all P = 0.001). Increase in muscle mass was greater in RT than that in AT and CG (P = 0.031 and P = 0.045, respectively). Compared with CG, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) decreased significantly in RT and AT (P = 0.003 and P = 0.014, respectively). There was a significant difference in the number of prediabetes who converted to diabetes among AT and RT, as compared with the control group (P = 0.031 and P = 0.011, respectively). No significant differences were observed in lipid, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), fasting insulin (FI), 2-hour postprandial glucose (2hPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), HOMA-IR, and HOMA-β across groups. Conclusion Both aerobic training and resistance training are effective in reducing abdominal adipose tissue and fasting plasma glucose in adults with prediabetes. Importantly, resistance training but not aerobic training is effective in augmenting muscle mass. Trial Registration The trial is registered with NCT02561377 (date of registration: 24/09/2015).

Metabolically healthy obesity and physical fitness in military males in the CHIEF study

“…short-term push-ups) can reduce more abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue than aerobic or anaerobic exercise alone 42 – 44 . In addition, the reduction of liver and visceral fat amounts might not differ with regard to the intensity and dose of aerobic exercise which the participants received 45 , and an increase of skeletal muscle mass was observed only in those taking anaerobic (resistant) exercise 45 . It is possible that MHO individuals might frequently receive more combined aerobic and anaerobic exercise training than the MUO and MHL so that MHO individuals had greater muscular strength than their counterparts.…”

Sarcopenia during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions: long-term health effects of short-term muscle loss

“…Resistance exercise has also been shown to improve markers of cardiovascular health (e.g., LDL cholesterol and blood pressure) [278,279], glycemic control (lower HbA1c and improved insulin sensitivity) [280,281], functional capacity [282,283], bone mineral density [284,285], body composition [283,286], sleep [287], and cognitive performance [288]. It should also be noted that regular exercise is known to improve immune function, a faculty that is particularly important in times of pandemic [126][127][128].…”

Effect of resistance training with and without caloric restriction on visceral fat: A systemic review and meta‐analysis

“…Currently, the effectiveness of RT for reducing VF is uncertain, and has been somewhat inconsistent across studies. In this regard, some studies have shown that RT effectively reduced VF, 40–42 but other studies did not indicate significant reductions in VF following RT 43,44 . In addition, in a 2012 systematic review and meta‐analysis by Ismail and colleagues that included 14 interventions in participants with obesity, overweight and normal weight, RT did not induce a reduction in VF and significant heterogeneity among studies was reported ( I 2 = 61.7%) 31 .…”