EXERCISE REQUIRED FOR VISCERAL FAT LOSS IN TYPE 2 POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

This study examined the effects of aerobic exercise without weight loss, a hypocaloric high monounsaturated fat diet (HMF) and diet+exercise (D+E) on total abdominal and visceral fat loss in obese postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes.

Thirty-three postmenopausal women (BMI: 34.6 +/- 1.9 kg/m2) were assigned to one of three interventions: a hypocaloric HMF diet alone, exercise alone (EX), and HMF D+E for 14 weeks. Aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal fat distribution (magnetic resonance imaging), glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were measured pre and post intervention.

Body weight ( approximately 4.5 kg) and percent body fat ( approximately 5%) were decreased (P < 0.05) with the D and D+E intervention, while only percent body fat ( approximately 2.3%) decreased with EX. Total abdominal fat and sc adipose tissue (SAT) were reduced with the D and D+E interventions (P < 0.05), while visceral adipose tissue (VAT) decreased with the D+E and EX intervention, but not the D intervention.

Exercise alone resulted in a reduction in total abdominal fat, VAT, and SAT despite the lack of weight loss. The reductions in total abdominal fat and SAT explained 57.2% and 9.7%, respectively, of the variability in the changes in fasting glucose levels, while the reductions in VAT explained 15.9% of the changes in fasting insulin levels (P < 0.05).

From the results it was concluded that modest weight loss, either through D or D+E, resulted in similar improvements in total abdominal fat, SAT and glycemic status in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes; however the addition of exercise to diet is necessary for VAT loss. These data demonstrate the importance of exercise in the treatment of women with type 2 diabetes.

To Learn More on how Visceral Fat Affects Diabetes and MetSyn. please go to Role of A Critical Visceral Adipose Tissue Threshold (CVATT) In Metabolic Syndrome:
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 14, 2004;

Learn about the Steps To Health Program, a program to increase physical activity that has gone through 8 years of clinical studies to show its effectiveness.
http://www.steps-to-health.org

================================

Dr. Richard Bernstein’s book the Diabetes Solution NEW AND REVISED
Special Pricing for Subscribers of Diabetes In Control
512 pages packed with new information on Diet, Exercise, Curbing Carbohydrate cravings, new insulin regimens, monitoring blood sugars, helping physicians and patients to regulate blood sugars plus much, much more. “RUN DON’T WALK TO GET THIS BOOK” -- Michael R. Eades, M.D. Author of Protein Power. This book should be in the library of every diabetic patient, and especially Physician’s who treat diabetes.” — Barry Sears, Ph.D., author of THE ZONE.“
http://www.diabetes-solution.net