Comparable reduction of the visceral adipose tissue depot after a diet-induced weight loss with or without aerobic exercise in obese subjects: a 12-week randomized intervention study.
OBJECTIVE
Weight loss with preferential effect on the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) depot could have important clinical benefits. In this study, we investigated the independent and combined effect of regular exercise and diet induced weight loss on body fat distribution. DESIGN; Randomized control design of i) exercise-only (EXO; 12 weeks of exercise without diet-restriction), ii) hypocaloric-diet (DIO; 8 weeks of very low energy diet (VLED 600 kcal/day) followed by 4-weeks weight maintenance diet) and iii) hypocaloric-diet and exercise (DEX; 8 weeks VLED 800 kcal/day+a 4-week weight maintenance diet combined with exercise throughout the 12 weeks).


METHODS
Seventy-nine obese males and females were included.


METHODS
Body fat distribution was quantified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-technology.


RESULTS
In the EXO group, the weight loss (3.5 kg) and the relative reduction in VAT (18%) was significantly lower compared with the weight losses in the DIO and DEX groups (12.3 kg; P<0.01) and to the reduction in VAT (30-37%; P<0.01). In all the three groups, the relative reduction of VAT was higher as compared with the reduction in fat mass (FM; combining all fat depots determined by MRI; P<0.01 for all comparisons). The changes in VAT were associated with changes in FM and related to the initial VAT/FM ratio (r(2)=0.72; P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Exercise has no additional effects in reduction of the VAT depot, compared with the major effects of hypocaloric diet alone. In addition, the effects of exercise per se on VAT are relatively limited. The effects on the VAT depot are closely associated with changes in total FM.
Christiansen
Tore
T
Department of Medicine and Endocrinology C, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus Sygehus, Tage Hansensgade 2, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. tore.christiansen@ki.au.dk
Paulsen
Søren K
SK
Bruun
Jens M
JM
Overgaard
Kristian
K
Ringgaard
Steffen
S
Pedersen
Steen B
SB
Positano
Vincenzo
V
Richelsen
Bjørn
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008451:Maximal Voluntary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009929:Organ Size; D013997:Time Factors; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult