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

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Adipose tissue turnover plays a critical role in body weight maintenance, and obesity is underscored by the dysregulated balance between fat breakdown and synthesis. Although there are clear health-related benefits of physical activity, little is known about how resistance exercise, as opposed to endurance exercise, can reduce the risk of metabolic disorders, particularly in women. The goal of the proposed study is to investigate the effectiveness of resistance training to improve basal and stimulated fat metabolism in postmenopausal women with obesity and pre-diabetes, potentially serving as a viable and practical approach to prevent the onset of 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.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Exercise Training for Fat Metabolism in Postmenopausal Women?

Research shows that exercise, including aerobic and resistance training, can help postmenopausal women reduce body fat, improve muscle strength, and lower the risk of heart disease. It also helps maintain bone density and can improve mood, making it an effective treatment for various health issues during menopause. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is exercise training safe for postmenopausal women?

Exercise training, including aerobic and resistance exercises, is generally safe for postmenopausal women and can help reduce risks of cardiovascular disease, improve muscle strength, and enhance overall physical fitness. Studies show that regular exercise can positively impact metabolic and cardiac health without significant adverse effects. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

How does exercise training for fat metabolism in postmenopausal women differ from other treatments?

This treatment is unique because it combines endurance and resistance exercises to improve fat metabolism, muscle strength, and bone density, which can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Unlike medications, this approach enhances overall metabolic fitness and body composition through physical activity, without relying on drugs or hormone replacement therapy. ^{2 4 5 10 11}

Research Team

Mostafa M Ali, PhD

Principal Investigator

Florida State University

Robert C Hickner, PhD

Principal Investigator

Florida State University

Michael J Ormsbee, PhD

Principal Investigator

Florida State University

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Meaningful weight loss in obese postmenopausal women: a pilot study of high-intensity interval training and wearable technology. [2019]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise in the menopausal woman. [2009]

3. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resistance training decreased abdominal adiposity in postmenopausal women. [2023]

4. Brazil pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Impact of an exercise program in adiposity and muscular condition of postmenopausal women]. [2019]

5. Belgium pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Multiple benefits of physical exercise in menopausal women]. [2015]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of concurrent exercise on cardiometabolic status during perimenopause: the FLAMENCO Project. [2019]

7. Korea (South) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of exercise type on estrogen, tumor markers, immune function, antioxidant function, and physical fitness in postmenopausal obese women. [2020]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term exercise and risk of metabolic and cardiac diseases: the erlangen fitness and prevention study. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dose Response to Exercise in Women aged 45-75 yr (DREW): design and rationale. [2019]

10. Switzerland 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. [2020]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of exercise training and hormone replacement therapy on lean and fat mass in postmenopausal women. [2019]