Effect of exercise intensity and belly fat
If you exercise enough, is it possible to selectively lose abdominal fat?
No, say researchers at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and the State University of New York at Buffalo.
First, the details.
- 112 overweight and obese postmenopausal women participated.
- Body mass index: 25-40 kg/m2
- Waist circumference greater than 88 cm
- They were assigned to a 20-week program.
- Calorie restriction (CR only)
- CR plus moderate-intensity aerobic exercise
- CR plus vigorous-intensity exercise
- Diet followed a controlled program of underfeeding during which meals were provided at individual calorie levels (about 400 kcal/day).
- Exercise (3 days/week) involved treadmill walking at an intensity of 45% to 50% (moderate-intensity) or 70% to 75% (vigorous-intensity) of heart rate reserve.
And, the results.
- Average weight loss did not differ across groups.
- Maximal aerobic exercise capacity (VO2max) increased significantly more with CR + vigorous-intensity vs the other groups.
- The CR-only group lost significantly more lean mass than either exercise group.
- All groups showed significant but similar decreases in abdominal fat.
- Changes in lipids, fasting blood sugar or insulin values were similar among the groups.
The bottom line?
The authors concluded, “There is not a preferential loss of abdominal fat when either moderate- or vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise is performed during caloric restriction.”
2/23/09 19:57 JR