Effects of resistance training on insulin sensitivity in overweight Latino adolescent males.
OBJECTIVE
Insulin resistance is thought to be a core defect in the pathophysiology of obesity-related comorbidities in children, such as type 2 diabetes. Exercise training is known to improve insulin resistance and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in adults. However, very little is known regarding the effects of exercise on insulin resistance in youth. Therefore, we examined the effects of a 16-wk resistance training exercise intervention on insulin sensitivity in youth at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
Twenty-two overweight Latino adolescent males were randomly assigned to either a twice-per-week resistance training group (RT=11) or a nonexercising control group (C=11) for 16 wk. Strength was assessed by one-repetition maximum, body composition was quantified by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and insulin sensitivity was determined by the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test with minimal modeling.


RESULTS
Significant increases in upper- and lower-body strength were observed in the RT compared with the C group. The RT group significantly increased insulin sensitivity compared with the C group (P<0.05), and this increase remained significant after adjustment for changes in total fat mass and total lean tissue mass (P<0.05). Compared with baseline values, insulin sensitivity increased 45.1+/-7.3% in the RT group versus -0.9+/-12.9% in controls (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
A twice-per-week 16-wk resistance training program can significantly increase insulin sensitivity in overweight Latino adolescent males independent of changes in body composition.
Shaibi
Gabriel Q
GQ
Department of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
Cruz
Martha L
ML
Ball
Geoff D C
GD
Weigensberg
Marc J
MJ
Salem
George J
GJ
Crespo
Noe C
NC
Goran
Michael I
MI
D000293:Adolescent; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology*