title: Effects of exercise on metabolic risk variables in overweight postmenopausal women: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the effects of exercise on metabolic risk variables insulin, leptin, glucose, and triglycerides in overweight/obese postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sedentary women (n = 173) who were overweight or obese (BMI > or = 25 kg/m(2) or > or =24 kg/m(2) with > or =33% body fat), 50 to 75 years of age, were randomized to 12 months of exercise (> or =45 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity 5 d/wk) or to a stretching control group. Body composition (DXA) and visceral adiposity (computed tomography) were measured at baseline and 12 months. Insulin, glucose, triglycerides, and leptin were measured at baseline and 3 and 12 months. Insulin resistance was evaluated by the homeostasis model assessment formula. Differences from baseline to follow-up were calculated and compared across groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exercisers had a 4% decrease and controls had a 12% increase in insulin concentrations from baseline to 12 months (p = 0.0002). Over the same 12-month period, leptin concentrations decreased by 7% among exercisers compared with remaining constant among controls (p = 0.03). Homeostasis model assessment scores decreased by 2% among exercisers and increased 14% among controls from baseline to 12 months (p = 0.0005). The exercise effect on insulin was modified by changes in total fat mass (trend, p = 0.03), such that the exercise intervention abolished increases in insulin concentrations associated with gains in total fat mass.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regular moderate-intensity exercise can be used to improve metabolic risk variables such as insulin and leptin in overweight/obese postmenopausal women. These results are promising for health care providers providing advice to postmenopausal women for lifestyle changes to reduce risk of insulin resistance, coronary heart disease, and diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Cancer Prevention, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA.
authors.forename: Laura Lewis
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Bess E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: Shelley S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Tworoger
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Cornelia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.forename: Melinda L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Irwin
authors.forename: Rebecca E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.forename: Kumar B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Rajan
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stanczyk
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Weigle
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McTiernan
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001823:Body Composition; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008019:Life Style; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017698:Postmenopause; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D014280:Triglycerides