
Influence of dietary restriction and low‐intensity exercise on weight loss and insulin sensitivity in obese equids
Author(s) -
Bamford Nicholas J.,
Potter Samantha J.,
Baskerville Courtnay L.,
Harris Patricia A.,
Bailey Simon R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/jvim.15374
Subject(s) - medicine , adipokine , adiponectin , endocrinology , weight loss , leptin , population , obesity , insulin , horse , calorie restriction , insulin resistance , zoology , biology , paleontology , environmental health
Background The importance of including exercise with dietary modification for the management of obese equids is not clearly understood. Objectives To evaluate the effect of a practical low‐intensity exercise regimen, in addition to dietary restriction, on indices of insulin sensitivity (SI) and plasma adipokine concentrations in obese equids. Animals Twenty‐four obese (body condition score [BCS] ≥ 7/9) horses and ponies. Methods Over a 12‐week period, animals received either dietary restriction only (DIET) or dietary restriction plus low‐intensity exercise (DIET+EX). All animals were provided with a restricted ration of grass hay at 1.25% body weight (BW) on a dry matter basis, providing 82.5% estimated digestible energy requirements. The DIET+EX group undertook low‐intensity exercise 5 days per week on an automated horse walker. Before and after weight loss, total body fat mass (TBFM) was determined, indices of SI were calculated using minimal model analysis of a frequently sampled IV glucose tolerance test, and adipokines plus inflammatory biomarkers were measured using validated assays. Results Decreases in BCS, BW, and TBFM were similar between groups (all P > .05). After weight loss, animals in both groups had decreased basal insulin and leptin concentrations, and increased adiponectin concentrations (all P < .001). Furthermore, animals in the DIET+EX group had significantly improved SI and decreased serum amyloid A concentrations relative to animals in the DIET group (both P = .01). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Regular low‐intensity exercise provided additional health benefits compared with dietary restriction alone in this population of obese equids.