Summary: New research reveals that people with obesity who exercise regularly for years have healthier belly fat tissue, potentially reducing risks associated with weight gain.
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
A team of researchers at the University of Michigan has uncovered surprising benefits of long-term exercise on fat tissue in people with obesity. Their study, published in Nature Metabolism, suggests that regular exercise over several years can reshape belly fat to store excess calories more effectively and healthily.
Why it matters
As obesity rates continue to climb worldwide, understanding how exercise affects fat tissue could lead to new strategies for preventing obesity-related health complications. This research offers hope that consistent physical activity might provide a buffer against some negative effects of weight gain, even if it doesn’t prevent the gain itself.
The Hidden Benefits of Long-Term Exercise
The study compared two groups of adults with obesity: 16 who had exercised regularly for at least two years (averaging 11 years) and 16 who had never exercised regularly. Both groups were matched in body fat mass, weight, and sex.
Professor Jeffrey Horowitz, the study’s principal investigator, explained, “Our findings indicate that in addition to being a means to expend calories, exercising regularly for several months to years seems to modify your fat tissue in ways that allows you to store your body fat more healthfully if or when you do experience some weight gain––as nearly everyone does as we get older.”
Key findings from the fat tissue samples included:
- More blood vessels in exercisers’ fat tissue
- Higher numbers of mitochondria (the cell’s energy producers)
- More beneficial proteins
- Less collagen that can interfere with metabolism
- Fewer inflammation-causing cells
These characteristics suggest that long-term exercisers’ fat tissue is better equipped to store fat in a healthier manner.
The Importance of Subcutaneous Fat
The researchers focused on subcutaneous adipose tissue – the fat just under the skin. This type of fat is considered healthier than visceral fat, which accumulates around organs.
“What it means is that if or when people experience weight gain, this excess fat will be stored more ‘healthfully’ in this area under the skin, rather than in the fat tissue around their organs (visceral fat) or an accumulation of fat in organs themselves, like the liver or heart,” Horowitz clarified.
This distinction is crucial because unhealthy fat accumulation in organs can lead to serious health issues. For instance, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which is becoming increasingly common in the U.S., occurs when excess fat builds up in the liver, potentially leading to cirrhosis or cancer.
From the Lab to Real Life: Growing Healthier Fat
In a fascinating twist, the researchers grew fat tissue in the lab using cells collected from both exercisers and non-exercisers. Remarkably, the cells from exercisers developed into tissue that stored fat more effectively.
This laboratory finding supports the idea that long-term exercise doesn’t just burn calories – it fundamentally changes how our bodies handle and store fat.
Looking Ahead: Questions and Future Research
While these results are promising, they also raise new questions:
- How long does it take for exercise to start reshaping fat tissue?
- Are certain types or intensities of exercise more effective at modifying fat tissue?
- Do these changes in fat tissue translate to measurable health benefits?
Horowitz emphasized the need for long-term studies to track people as they start and maintain exercise programs over several years. Such research could reveal how fat tissue changes over time, even if the amount of fat doesn’t decrease.
The team also plans to investigate whether the lab-grown fat tissue from exercisers and non-exercisers functions differently, potentially uncovering more health-related differences.
As obesity continues to be a major public health concern, this research offers a new perspective on the benefits of exercise. It suggests that even if long-term exercise doesn’t lead to significant weight loss, it might still provide important health benefits by reshaping how our bodies store fat.
Quiz: Test Your Understanding of the Fat Tissue Study
- What was the main difference found in the fat tissue of long-term exercisers compared to non-exercisers? a) They had less fat tissue overall b) Their fat tissue had more blood vessels and mitochondria c) Their fat tissue was located in different areas of the body d) Their fat cells were smaller in size
- According to the study, why is it beneficial to store fat in subcutaneous adipose tissue? a) It burns more calories b) It’s easier to lose through diet c) It reduces the need to store fat in unhealthy places like organs d) It increases metabolism
- What surprising result did the researchers find when growing fat tissue in the lab? a) The exercisers’ cells grew faster b) The non-exercisers’ cells were more resilient c) The exercisers’ cells developed into tissue that stored fat more effectively d) There was no difference between the two groups
Answer Key:
- b) Their fat tissue had more blood vessels and mitochondria
- c) It reduces the need to store fat in unhealthy places like organs
- c) The exercisers’ cells developed into tissue that stored fat more effectively
