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Separate Effects of Exercise Amount and Intensity on Adipose Tissue and Skeletal Muscle Mass in Adults with Abdominal Obesity
Author(s) -
Cowan Theresa E.,
Brennan Andrea M.,
Stotz Paula J.,
Clarke John,
Lamarche Benoit,
Ross Robert
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.22304
Subject(s) - medicine , adipose tissue , skeletal muscle , obesity , muscle mass , abdominal obesity , endocrinology , intensity (physics) , metabolic syndrome , physics , quantum mechanics
Objective To determine the effects of exercise amount (kilocalories per session) and intensity (percent of maximal oxygen consumption [% VO 2 peak]) on adipose tissue (AT) and skeletal muscle (SM) in adults with abdominal obesity. Methods Participants ( n = 103; 52.7 ± 7.6 years) were randomized to the following groups: control; low‐amount, low‐intensity exercise (180 kcal/session [women] and 300 kcal/session [men] at 50% VO 2 peak); high‐amount, low‐intensity exercise (HALI; 360 kcal/session [women] and 600 kcal/session [men] at 50% VO 2 peak); or high‐amount, high‐intensity exercise (HAHI; 360 kcal/session [women] and 600 kcal/session [men] at 75% VO 2 peak) for 24 weeks. Activities of daily living were measured by accelerometry. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure tissue mass. Results Reduction in all AT depots was greater in the exercise groups compared with control ( P < 0.002); however, there were no differences between exercise groups ( P > 0.05). Visceral and abdominal subcutaneous AT reduction was uniform across the abdomen. Total SM mass did not change with exercise compared with control ( P = 0.32). However, while lower‐body SM mass was maintained ( P = 0.32), upper‐body SM mass in the high‐amount, high‐intensity and the high‐amount, low‐intensity groups was reduced compared with controls ( P < 0.008). Conclusions In adults with abdominal obesity, substantial reductions in total, abdominal subcutaneous, and visceral AT with a preservation of total SM mass were observed independent of exercise amount or intensity.