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Effect of adiposity on insulin action after acute and chronic resistance exercise in non-diabetic women

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Abstract

Purpose

Obesity may attenuate metabolic health improvements following lifestyle interventions. However, the effect of adiposity on insulin action following resistance exercise in young non-diabetic women is unknown. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that adiposity attenuates improvements in insulin sensitivity and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (INS0–60/GLC0–60) after both acute resistance exercise (ARE) and progressive training (PRT).

Methods

Twenty-six young non-diabetic women (21.2 ± 0.7 years) were randomly assigned to control (C; n = 7; BF 40.1 ± 2.1 %) or exercise groups: normal body fat (NBF; n = 8; BF 29.9 ± 2.3 %) and high body fat (HBF; n = 12; BF 48.2 ± 1.4 %). Acute whole-body exercises were performed at 60 % of 1-RM for three sets of 8–12 repetitions, and PRT was performed 3 days/week for 7 weeks. A 75 g OGTT was conducted before and after ARE and PRT to estimate insulin sensitivity (Matsuda index) and INS0–60/GLC0–60. Insulin area under the curve (AUC) was calculated using the trapezoidal model.

Results

ARE had no statistical effect on insulin action across groups. Strength and fat-free mass (via DXA) increased after PRT in both NBF and HBF (p < 0.05), but only HBF women decreased BF (p < 0.01). HBF women were less insulin sensitive at baseline compared to NBF women (p < 0.05). Insulin sensitivity increased 95 % and INS0–60/GLC0–60 decreased 32 % following PRT in NBF, but not HBF or C (p < 0.05). After training, enhanced insulin sensitivity was inversely related to decreased INS0–60/GLC0–60 (r = −0.71, p < 0.001), fasting insulin (r = −0.71, p < 0.001), and insulin AUC (r = −0.85, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Seven weeks of PRT increases insulin sensitivity and reduces glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in NBF, but not HBF women. Obesity attenuates exercise-induced improvements in glucose regulation in young non-diabetic women.

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Acknowledgments

BJE conceptualized the study, and SKM, KRH, BGE, and TKE contributed to study design. All authors shared aspects of data collection, analysis, and interpretation. SKM, KRH and TKE share responsibility for statistical integrity. SKM and KRH wrote the manuscript and remaining authors provided edits. We thank Dr. Donovan Conley from Wayne State and Dr. Barry Braun from the University of Massachusetts for their advice on study design, as well as Shana Erwin and the Wayne Mercy Medical Center Lab Staff for clinical testing. We also thank Summer Cord and Kevin Negaard at the Center for Neurosciences, Orthopaedics & Spine for DXA assistance. We lastly thank all subjects for their efforts. This study was funded by the Wayne State College Foundation.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest.

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Author notes

  1. Steven K. Malin

    Present address: Lerner Research Institute, Department of Pathobiology, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA

    Steven K. Malin

  2. Human Performance Laboratory, Wayne State College, 1111 Main Street, Wayne, NE, 68787, USA

    Kristi R. Hinnerichs, Brandon G. Echtenkamp, Tammy K. Evetovich & Barbara J. Engebretsen

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  1. Steven K. Malin
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  2. Kristi R. Hinnerichs
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  3. Brandon G. Echtenkamp
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Barbara J. Engebretsen.

Additional information

Communicated by Peter Krustrup.

S. K. Malin and K. R. Hinnerichs shared first author responsibilities.

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Malin, S.K., Hinnerichs, K.R., Echtenkamp, B.G. et al. Effect of adiposity on insulin action after acute and chronic resistance exercise in non-diabetic women. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 2933–2941 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2725-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2725-5

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