Effect of Exercise Training Intensity on Abdominal Visceral Fat and Body Composition

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome is a complex clustering of metabolic defects associated with physical inactivity, abdominal adiposity, and aging. Purpose To examine the effects of exercise training intensity on abdominal visceral fat (AVF) and body composition in obese women with the metabolic syndrome. Methods Twenty-seven middle-aged, obese women (mean ± SD; age: 51 ± 9 years and body mass index: 34 ± 6 kg/m2) with the metabolic syndrome completed one-of-three 16-week aerobic exercise interventions: (i) No Exercise Training (Control): Seven participants maintained their existing levels of physical activity, (ii) Low-Intensity Exercise Training (LIET): eleven participants exercised 5 days · week-1 at an intensity ≤ lactate threshold (LT) (iii) High-Intensity Exercise Training (HIET): nine participants exercised 3 days · week-1 at an intensity > LT and 2 days ·week-1 ≤ LT. Exercise time was adjusted to maintain caloric expenditure (400 kcal·session-1). Single-slice computed tomography scans obtained at the L4-L5 disc-space and mid-thigh were used to determine abdominal fat and thigh muscle cross-sectional areas. Percent body fat was assessed by air displacement plethysmography. Results HIET significantly reduced total abdominal fat (p<0.001), abdominal subcutaneous fat (p=0.034) and AVF (p=0.010). There were no significant changes observed in any of these parameters within the Control or LIET conditions. Conclusions The present data indicate that body composition changes are affected by intensity of exercise training with HIET more effective for reducing total abdominal fat, subcutaneous abdominal fat and AVF in obese women with the metabolic syndrome.

Efficiency of a Free-Living Physical Activity Promotion Program Following Diet Modification for Fat Loss in Japanese Obese Men

“…High-intensity exercise training has been shown to reduce IFA to a greater extent than low-intensity exercise, although it carries identical energy costs (33). The results of our study support this hypothesis, as changes in DBP correlated with DMVPA, DLPA and DMPA.…”

Non-assisted treadmill training does not improve motor recovery and body composition in spinal cord-transected mice

“…This could have been induced by training, which is known generally to decrease body fat levels. 23 This greater weight loss in trained mice was also associated with muscular atrophy, as TT Tx animals displayed further muscle atrophy than the untrained animals (as seen with soleus and EDL lower muscle CSA values). This may perhaps be taken as preliminary signs of overtraining or other stress-related factors.…”

Efficacy of moderate-intensity walking provided feedback by ECE PEDO on abdominal fat in overweight and obese women: A randomized, exercise study

“…[7] Gutin et al [20] reported no clear effect of the intensity of physical training on the reduction of visceral adiposity whereas Irving et al [21] reported the importance of exercise intensity in obese adults with abdominal visceral fat as a primary outcome parameter. On the other hand, Keating et al [22] reported a significant reduction in visceral adipose tissue in overweight/obese adults received different intensity aerobic exercise without differences between the intensity.…”

“…[6] The direct relationship between the exercise intensity and a decrease in the visceral fat has not been searched as a primary target widely. [7] Among few studies, some authors [8] reported a significant reduction in visceral adipose tissue without differences between the aerobic exercise intensity, suggesting no precious effect of the intensity, whereas the others [9] reported the importance of aerobic exercise intensity in abdominal adiposity as a primary outcome parameter.…”