Exercise reduces body fat and improves insulin sensitivity and pancreatic β-cell function in overweight and obese male Taiwanese adolescents

Abstract

BackgroundImprovements in insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell function have been shown following exercise in adults with obesity; however, few adolescent-based studies have been conducted. This study examined the impact of exercise training on body fat and insulin sensitivity and secretion in overweight and obese adolescents.MethodsThe effects of a 12-week exercise program on the parameters of adiposity and glucose homeostasis were investigated in 47 overweight and obese male adolescents.ResultsAfter the exercise training program, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and body fat were significantly decreased (P < 0.001). Improvements in insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR: 1.40 vs. 0.86, P < 0.001) and the disposition index (5.84 vs. 12.77, P < 0.001) were also observed. Compared to baseline, oral glucose tolerance tests showed reduced glucose and insulin levels at all time points following the exercise training (all P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis of overweight and obese adolescents with abnormal glucose tolerance revealed that there was no difference in plasma glucose levels as compared to the lean group.ConclusionsA 12-week exercise training is effective in reducing body fat and improving insulin sensitivity and secretion. In addition, the benefits of the exercise intervention were even experienced by those with impaired glucose tolerance.

The benefits of physical exercise for the health of the pancreatic β‐cell: a review of the evidence

“…Of the human studies, exercise interventions of less than 1 month generally fail to demonstrate an improvement in insulin secretion (Gradmark et al., 2011, Hordern et al., 2008), whereas exercise interventions of over 2 months on the whole demonstrate an improvement (AbouAssi et al., 2015, Backx et al., 2011, Croymans et al., 2013, Dela & Stallknecht, 2010, Madsen et al., 2015, Malin et al., 2013, Michishita et al., 2008, Shih & Kwok, 2018, Slentz et al., 2009, Solomon et al., 2010, Solomon et al., 2013). These improvements were observed in non‐diabetic obese/overweight (AbouAssi et al., 2015, Croymans et al., 2013, Lee et al., 2012, Madsen et al., 2015, Shih & Kwok, 2018, Slentz et al., 2009, Solomon et al., 2010), pre‐diabetic (Bloem & Chang, 2008, Heiskanen et al., 2018, Malin et al., 2013, Michishita et al., 2008, Solomon et al., 2013), newly diagnosed T2D (Backx et al., 2011) and established T2D (Dela & Stallknecht, 2010, Michishita et al., 2008) populations. There is some evidence that the benefits are greater in established T2D than in people with normal glucose tolerance (Michishita et al., 2008).…”

“…Benefits were seen in both men and women, and all adult ages (Bloem & Chang, 2008, Malin et al., 2013). There is a paucity of studies in children but one in adolescents (Shih & Kwok, 2018). The one study in human T1D was a pilot feasibility study undertaken by our group (Narendran et al., 2017).…”

Role of exercise on insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function: is exercise sufficient for the prevention of youth-onset type 2 diabetes?

“…Exercise was conducted for 13 weeks in that study. Similar beneficial effects of aerobic exercise were described in various interventions: lifestyle intervention with 6 months of aerobic exercise [ 26 ] and 12 weeks of a school-based aerobic physical activity program in Taiwan [ 27 ]. Furthermore, a recent study [ 28 ] examined the effectiveness of 3 exercise modalities, aerobic versus resistance versus the 2 combined, on hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp-measured insulin sensitivity (expressed as whole-body insulin-stimulated glucose disposal [Rd]) in overweight/obese youths.…”

Cell-Specific “Competition for Calories” Drives Asymmetric Nutrient-Energy Partitioning, Obesity, and Metabolic Diseases in Human and Non-human Animals

“…Thus, exercise training increases the competitive advantages of skeletal muscle-cells via multiple mechanisms (e.g., insulin, contraction, and hypertrophic related processes). Therefore, both increased physical activity and greater muscle mass induce competitive advantages ( Borghouts and Keizer, 2000 ; Boulé et al, 2003 ; Van Der Heijden et al, 2010 ; Srikanthan and Karlamangla, 2011 ; Shih and Kwok, 2018 ).…”