The effect of water-based exercise on glucose and insulin response in overweight women: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a 12-week moderate intensity, water-based circuit-type training intervention on glucose and insulin responses in overweight women with normal or impaired glucose tolerance.


METHODS
Fifteen overweight women (body mass index [BMI] > 25 kg/m(2)) with normal glucose tolerance (NGT; n = 7) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT; n = 8) were recruited for this study. All women completed a 12-week training intervention utilizing a combination of aerobic and resistance exercises in an aquatic environment, 3 days per week and 60 min per session at 70-75% mode-specific maximum heart rate. A standard 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was administered pre- and post-intervention, from which fasting and post-load plasma insulin and glucose levels were assessed.


RESULTS
Following the 12-week period, fasting insulin levels had decreased by 44% and 2-h glucose by 30.4% in the group with IGT. Waist circumference (WC) had decreased by 5.3% in this group at the end of the intervention. Only WC and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) decreased (6.0% and 5.5%, respectively) following the intervention in the NGT group.


CONCLUSIONS
Moderate intensity, water-based circuit-type exercises appear to be an effective exercise modality to improve glucose and insulin response to a glucose challenge in overweight women with IGT.
School of Physical Education, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. lynnette.jones@otago.ac.nz
Lynnette M
LM
Jones
Kim
K
Meredith-Jones
Michael
M
Legge
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000628:therapy*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D013550:Swimming; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055105:Waist Circumference; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio