Exercise Training for Fat Metabolism in Postmenopausal Women

Overseen By Michael J Ormsbee, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Florida State University

Must not be taking: Lipid metabolism drugs

Disqualifiers: Diabetes, Cancer, Cardiovascular, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 weeks

120 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how resistance exercise might improve fat metabolism in postmenopausal women with obesity and pre-diabetes. The research aims to determine if this exercise type can practically prevent type 2 diabetes. Participants will engage in either resistance or endurance exercise (also known as aerobic or cardiovascular exercise) regularly for 12 weeks. Postmenopausal women who are obese, have pre-diabetes, and are not currently exercising regularly might be suitable for this trial.

As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to important research that could lead to new exercise recommendations for preventing type 2 diabetes.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that participants do not take any medication affecting lipid metabolism. If you are on such medications, you may need to stop taking them to participate.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that both endurance and resistance exercises are safe and well-tolerated by postmenopausal women. Studies on endurance exercises indicate they improve heart and lung health, which helps protect the heart. These exercises boost fitness and strength without causing major problems.

Research confirms that resistance exercises are safe and effective for building strength in postmenopausal women. No serious side effects have been reported, making them a safe choice for enhancing muscle strength and overall well-being.

Overall, both types of exercises appear promising for postmenopausal women, with no significant safety concerns reported. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about endurance and resistance exercise as treatments for improving fat metabolism in postmenopausal women because these methods offer a non-pharmaceutical approach to managing changes in metabolism. Unlike typical treatments that might involve hormone replacement therapy or medications to manage weight, these exercise regimens aim to naturally enhance the body’s ability to burn fat through increased physical activity. Endurance exercise focuses on sustained activities like running or cycling, which can improve cardiovascular health and fat oxidation over time. Resistance exercise, on the other hand, involves strength training, which can boost muscle mass and also increase metabolic rate. This dual approach provides a holistic way to potentially improve fat metabolism without the side effects associated with medications.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving fat metabolism in postmenopausal women with obesity and pre-diabetes?

Research has shown that exercise benefits body composition in postmenopausal women. This trial will compare endurance exercise and resistance exercise. Studies indicate that endurance exercise, such as walking or cycling, increases oxygen use and strengthens the heart, potentially reducing the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Resistance exercise, like weightlifting, effectively decreases belly fat and improves overall body fat and metabolism. Both exercise types can help postmenopausal women with obesity and pre-diabetes manage their weight and health. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Robert C Hickner, PhD

Principal Investigator

Florida State University

Michael J Ormsbee, PhD

Principal Investigator

Florida State University

Mostafa M Ali, PhD

Principal Investigator

Florida State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for postmenopausal women aged 50-70, who are obese with a BMI of 30-39.9 and have prediabetes. They should not be smokers or currently on hormone replacement therapy, and must be relatively inactive (not exercising more than twice a week). Women with certain medical conditions or taking medications affecting fat metabolism cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a woman.

My blood sugar levels indicate I have prediabetes.

You do not smoke cigarettes.

Exclusion Criteria

You smoke or have been diagnosed with an eating disorder.

I have a condition or injury that stops me from doing physical exercises like lifting weights or running.

I am taking medication that affects fat processing in my body.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo either resistance or endurance exercise training to study the effects on fat metabolism and glucose control

12 weeks

Weekly exercise sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Data Collection

Microdialysis and isotope tracer experiments to assess lipolysis and glucose metabolism

Throughout the 12-week treatment

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Endurance Exercise
• Resistance Exercise

Trial Overview The study aims to compare the effects of resistance exercise versus endurance exercise on fat metabolism in postmenopausal women at risk for type 2 diabetes. It will assess how these exercises can influence body weight maintenance by altering the balance between fat breakdown and synthesis.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Resistance Exercise Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants do regular resistance exercise for 12 weeks.

Group II: Endurance Exercise Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants do regular endurance exercise for 12 weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Florida State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

234

Recruited

41,100+

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Collaborator

Trials

2,513

Recruited

4,366,000+

Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Collaborator

Trials

314

Recruited

183,000+

University of Arkansas

Collaborator

Trials

500

Recruited

153,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A 12-year supervised multipurpose exercise program significantly reduced coronary heart disease risk and metabolic syndrome scores in 137 postmenopausal women compared to those who maintained their usual activity.

The exercise group showed a 10-year coronary heart disease risk of 2.65% versus 5.40% in the control group, indicating that regular intense exercise can effectively lower long-term cardiac and metabolic risks in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term exercise and risk of metabolic and cardiac diseases: the erlangen fitness and prevention study. Kemmler, W., von Stengel, S., Bebenek, M., et al.[2022]

A study involving 94 sedentary postmenopausal women showed that 12 months of resistance and weight-bearing aerobic exercise significantly increased lean mass and decreased fat mass, indicating the effectiveness of exercise in improving body composition during menopause.

The benefits of exercise on body composition were not affected by hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and no significant changes in hormone levels were observed, suggesting that exercise alone can be a powerful intervention for managing body composition in postmenopausal women.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of exercise training and hormone replacement therapy on lean and fat mass in postmenopausal women. Figueroa, A., Going, SB., Milliken, LA., et al.[2019]

A 4-month concurrent exercise training program significantly reduced LDL cholesterol levels in perimenopausal women compared to a counseling group, indicating improved cardiometabolic health.

Both the exercise and counseling groups showed improvements in total cholesterol and blood pressure, highlighting the importance of a healthy lifestyle during menopause.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of concurrent exercise on cardiometabolic status during perimenopause: the FLAMENCO Project. Coll-Risco, I., Borges-Cosic, M., Acosta-Manzano, P., et al.[2019]

A 15-week structured resistance training program significantly reduced abdominal fat volumes, including visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (ASAT), in postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms, compared to a control group.

Women who adhered to the training regimen showed notable improvements in their fat ratios, indicating that resistance training can effectively counteract abdominal fat redistribution during menopause.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resistance training decreased abdominal adiposity in postmenopausal women. Nilsson, S., Hammar, M., West, J., et al.[2023]

Postmenopausal women face increased metabolic and cardiovascular risks due to factors like estrogen deprivation and lifestyle changes, leading to issues such as increased fat mass and insulin resistance.

Engaging in regular physical exercise, combined with a balanced diet and possibly estrogen therapy, can significantly improve metabolic health, reduce cardiovascular risks, and protect against bone loss and certain cancers in postmenopausal women.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Multiple benefits of physical exercise in menopausal women]. Gaspard, U., Buicu, C., Creutz, V.[2015]

High-intensity exercise training for 12 weeks significantly reduced both subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue in healthy pre- and post-menopausal women, indicating that physical activity can help manage body composition during the menopausal transition.

Despite the reduction in adipose tissue, insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue did not change with exercise training, suggesting that while exercise can reduce abdominal obesity, it may not improve insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue for women in different menopausal stages.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of High-Intensity Exercise Training on Adipose Tissue Mass, Glucose Uptake and Protein Content in Pre- and Post-menopausal Women. Mandrup, CM., Roland, CB., Egelund, J., et al.[2020]

In a study of 169 post-menopausal women, a 12-month exercise program significantly reduced fat mass and visceral fat area while increasing skeletal muscle mass compared to a control group.

The exercise group showed improvements in body composition, with a decrease in fat mass by 4.2% and an increase in muscle mass, highlighting the effectiveness of regular physical activity in countering menopause-related body changes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Impact of an exercise program in adiposity and muscular condition of postmenopausal women]. Rocha, JS., Ogando, BM., Reis, VM., et al.[2019]

A 16-week study involving 11 obese postmenopausal women showed that those participating in a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program lost twice as much weight (8.7% of initial body weight) compared to those in an endurance exercise program (4.3%).

The HIIT group also experienced significant reductions in fat mass and improvements in body composition, indicating that HIIT may be a more effective and feasible exercise option for weight loss in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Meaningful weight loss in obese postmenopausal women: a pilot study of high-intensity interval training and wearable technology. Grossman, JA., Arigo, D., Bachman, JL.[2019]

An exercise program combining aerobic and resistance training can help menopausal women prevent or alleviate health issues like cardiovascular disease, obesity, and osteoporosis, which are common during this life stage.

Regular aerobic exercise improves heart health and metabolic rate, while resistance training enhances muscle strength and bone density, making it a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle for menopausal women.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise in the menopausal woman. Shangold, MM.[2009]

Both aerobic and resistance exercises significantly reduced metabolic syndrome risk factors in postmenopausal obese women, including weight, body fat percentage, and waist circumference, while also increasing HDL cholesterol levels.

Aerobic exercise was found to be more effective than resistance exercise in improving maximum oxygen uptake, highlighting its potential benefits for enhancing physical fitness in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of exercise type on estrogen, tumor markers, immune function, antioxidant function, and physical fitness in postmenopausal obese women. Yoon, JR., Ha, GC., Ko, KJ., et al.[2020]

The DREW study will involve 450 sedentary, healthy postmenopausal women to investigate how different amounts of exercise affect cardiovascular disease risk factors and cardiorespiratory fitness over 6 months.

By comparing a nonexercise group to three exercise groups with varying intensities, the study aims to clarify the dose-response relationship between physical activity and health outcomes, which could inform better public health recommendations for postmenopausal women.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dose Response to Exercise in Women aged 45-75 yr (DREW): design and rationale. Morss, GM., Jordan, AN., Skinner, JS., et al.[2019]

Citations

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The effects of exercise training on body composition in ... Our results revealed that exercise training is effective for improving body composition in postmenopausal women.

2. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/aging/articles/10.3389/fragi.2021.667519/full

Aerobic High-Intensity Exercise Training Improves ... The current study demonstrates that, in older post-menopausal women, a period of aerobic high intensity training effectively increases maximal oxygen uptake.

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The effects of aerobic exercise on cardiometabolic health in ... Conclusion: Aerobic training may improve cardiometabolic health outcomes in postmenopausal females. There may be differential effects of exercise intensity on ...

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Effects of endurance training on cardiorespiratory fitness ... Although studies on young women [1] have demonstrated that endurance training increases cardiorespiratory capacity and decreases carbohydrate oxidation during ...

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Comparative Efficacy of 5 Exercise Types on ... Continuous endurance, interval, and resistance training exhibited similar efficacy in lowering several cardiometabolic risk factors without ...

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Influence of exercise type and duration on cardiorespiratory ... Our findings suggest that exercise training is effective in increasing CRF and muscular strength in post-menopausal women, which might be cardioprotective.

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Effects of Endurance Training on Cardiorespiratory Fitness ... We conclude that endurance training in healthy postmenopausal women that remain in energy balance, results in many of the classic cardio-pulmonary training ...

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Effects of a 26 week multicomponent exercise program on ... Significant improvements were observed in both groups. Premenopausal women showed superior lipid and glucose reductions (p < 0.01, d = 0.79), ...

9. ahajournals.org ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/jaha.117.005469

Cardiac Adaptations to High‐Intensity Aerobic Training in ... These results suggest that training‐induced cardiac adaptations are preserved in the early postmenopausal phase. Furthermore, the hormonal ...

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Vascular health and exercise in females throughout the lifespan Single bouts of exercise can elicit positive vascular effects in postmenopausal females. Brachial artery FMD was improved in healthy ...