Physical activity intensity and visceral adiposity: a randomized controlled trial
Loading...
Date
2012-09
Authors
Hay, Jacqueline
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Medical Association
Abstract
Background: Physical activity (PA) reduces visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in adults; however, the dose to reduce VAT in youth is unclear.
Objective: To examine whether high intensity PA preferentially reduces waist circumference (WC) and VAT compared to lower intensity PA.
Design: Randomized controlled trial.
Participants: Youth were 13-18yrs, overweight, with one additional risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2DM).
Intervention: 6-months, exercising 3 times/week at a high intensity (70-85% of Heart Rate Reserve HRR), or low intensity (40-55% HRR).
Primary outcome: VAT (cm2) measured by MRI at L4-L5, and WC at the height of the iliac crest (cm).
Results: 94 Youth were randomized to either high intensity (n=30); low intensity (n=32) or control (n=32). Changes in WC and VAT were not significant across groups. A trend towards a reduction in VAT in the training groups, compared to controls was demonstrated in sub-analysis (-14.3 ± 9.6 % vs. +0.01 ± 0.4 %, p= 0.059). Peak fitness increased significantly in both the high and low intensity arms (1.3 ± 0.6 and 1.4 ± 0.6 ml/kg/min, p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Training at 55-65% HRR improves fitness by ~10%, and ~2 days/week elicits modest non-significant reductions in VAT in overweight youth.
Description
Keywords
exercise, visceral, youth, adipose
Citation
Hay, J., Maximova, K., Durksen, A., Carson, V., Rinaldi, R. L., Torrance, B., et al. (2012). Physical Activity Intensity and Cardiometabolic Risk in Youth. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 1-8.