Exercise for Belly Fat

Overseen By Madeline Reid

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Mayo Clinic

Must not be taking: Glucose-lowering agents

Disqualifiers: Age < 18 or > 55, Pregnancy, Abdominal surgery, Systemic illness, Vascular disease

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

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 1 hour

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how exercise affects belly fat and insulin action, focusing on how muscles use glucose in people with obesity. Researchers aim to determine how exercise improves muscle glucose uptake from a whole-body level down to the cellular level. The trial includes two groups: sedentary, normal-weight individuals and those with upper body obesity. It may suit individuals with stable weight who are not using glucose-lowering medications and are willing to participate in exercise studies. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to scientific understanding of exercise benefits without the constraints of traditional clinical trial phases.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you are using glucose-lowering agents.

What prior data suggests that exercise is safe for obesity?

Research shows that exercise is generally safe and well-tolerated by most people. Studies have found that regular aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking or cycling, can significantly improve body composition by reducing body fat and increasing muscle mass. For instance, exercising for at least 150 minutes a week has been linked to noticeable reductions in waist size and overall body fat.

Exercise can also enhance the body's ability to manage blood sugar, which is particularly beneficial for individuals with obesity, as it can lower the risk of developing diabetes.

In terms of safety, exercise usually doesn't cause problems when performed correctly. However, starting at a comfortable pace and gradually increasing intensity helps prevent injuries. Consulting a healthcare professional before beginning a new exercise routine is advisable, especially for those with existing health concerns. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about exercise as a treatment for belly fat because it offers a natural and accessible approach without the need for medication or surgery. Unlike standard options like diet pills or bariatric surgery, exercise can improve overall health, boost metabolism, and enhance cardiovascular fitness. This trial aims to uncover how structured exercise impacts body composition differently in obese versus lean individuals, potentially offering a tailored approach to fat reduction.

What evidence suggests that exercise is effective for reducing belly fat?

This trial will compare the effects of exercise on belly fat across different groups. Research has shown that exercise can help reduce belly fat. Aerobic activities like walking or jogging for at least 150 minutes a week can noticeably shrink the waist and lower body fat. Studies have found that more intense exercise is particularly effective at reducing belly fat. Combining different types of exercise also enhances overall health. The evidence supports exercise as a powerful method to lose belly fat and improve health. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Michael D Jensen, MD

Principal Investigator

Mayo Clinic

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for sedentary men with upper body obesity and sedentary, normal weight premenopausal women. Participants must be aged between 18 to 55 years, have been weight stable for two months, and willing to consent in writing. Those with systemic illness, vascular diseases, using glucose-lowering drugs or women who are pregnant can't join.

Inclusion Criteria

Weight stable for two (2) months prior to study.

Willing to provide written, informed consent.

I am a sedentary, normal weight, premenopausal woman.

Exclusion Criteria

I have had surgery in my upper stomach area before.

I have another active illness or cancer.

I have symptoms from large or small blood vessel problems.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo exercise interventions to study muscle glucose uptake

1 hour

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Exercise

Trial Overview

The study is testing how exercise affects muscle glucose uptake in people with upper body obesity compared to those of normal weight. It aims to understand the relationship between insulin action in muscles and how exercise influences sugar use from a whole-body down to cellular level.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Obese Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Lean Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Control

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mayo Clinic

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,427

Recruited

3,221,000+

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

Collaborator

Trials

2,513

Recruited

4,366,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 102 overweight and obese adults, higher cardiopulmonary fitness was found to be inversely associated with both visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), indicating that better cardiovascular health may help reduce abdominal fat.

Muscular fitness was only inversely associated with SAT, suggesting that while both types of fitness are important, cardiopulmonary fitness plays a more significant role in reducing overall abdominal fat distribution.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cardiopulmonary fitness but not muscular fitness associated with visceral adipose tissue mass. An, KY., Kim, S., Oh, M., et al.[2022]

A study using a validated computer model simulated various exercises to assess the risk of fetal loss in pregnant women, finding an average risk of 10.0% across all activities.

Low-impact exercises like walking pose minimal risk (3.1%), while higher-impact activities like running increase the risk of adverse fetal outcomes (up to 18.8%), suggesting that pregnant women should focus on low-impact exercises for safety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of pregnant female injury risk during everyday activities. Manoogian, SJ., Moorcroft, DM., Duma, SM.[2009]

A systematic review of 24 studies involving 1383 participants found that exercise significantly reduces visceral fat in adults with type 2 diabetes, with a notable effect size of -0.21, indicating that exercise is beneficial for managing ectopic fat associated with metabolic complications.

Aerobic exercise was specifically effective in reducing visceral fat (effect size -0.23), while resistance training did not show significant benefits, suggesting that aerobic activities should be prioritized in exercise programs for individuals with obesity-related type 2 diabetes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise and ectopic fat in type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sabag, A., Way, KL., Keating, SE., et al.[2018]

Physical activity plays a crucial role in treating obesity not just by reducing overall body weight or fat mass, but also by targeting harmful fat deposits in the abdomen, liver, and muscle, which are linked to obesity-related health risks.

This review emphasizes that physical activity can be beneficial for obesity treatment even when there is minimal or no weight loss, highlighting its importance beyond just weight management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical activity in the treatment of obesity: beyond body weight reduction. Janiszewski, PM., Ross, R.[2016]

In a 14-week clinical trial involving 209 overweight and obese women, adding aerobic exercise to a diet program significantly enhanced the reduction of intra-abdominal fat in those with an intra-abdominal fat obesity phenotype, with reductions of -49.3 cm² compared to -37.8 cm² for diet alone.

The study also found that the type of obesity phenotype influenced the effectiveness of fat reduction, with those having abdominal subcutaneous fat obesity showing greater reductions in that area compared to those with intra-abdominal fat obesity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of aerobic exercise and obesity phenotype on abdominal fat reduction in response to weight loss. Okura, T., Nakata, Y., Lee, DJ., et al.[2015]

In a study involving 30 healthy young women, combining abdominal radiofrequency with aerobic exercise did not significantly increase lipolytic activity, as measured by glycerol concentrations and lipid profiles, compared to exercise alone.

The intervention was found to be safe, with no adverse effects reported, indicating that while the combination treatment did not enhance fat loss, it poses no risk to participants.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of an aerobic exercise session combined with abdominal radiofrequency on lipolytic activity in women: Randomized control trial. Noites, A., Vale, AL., Pereira, AS., et al.[2020]

Obesity, defined as a body mass index over 30 kg/m², is a significant health issue, particularly in North America where its prevalence ranges from 9% to 12% of the population.

Abdominal fat is more harmful than total body fat, as a higher waist-to-hip ratio significantly increases the risk of serious health conditions like heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Obesity. Part I--Pathogenesis. Bray, GA., Gray, DS.[2018]

In a study involving 28 healthy young women, four sessions of aerobic exercise combined with radiofrequency treatment significantly reduced abdominal adiposity, as evidenced by decreases in waist circumference and subcutaneous fat thickness.

The experimental group, which received active radiofrequency treatment, showed these improvements compared to a placebo group that received no effective treatment, highlighting the efficacy of this combined intervention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of four sessions of aerobic exercise with abdominal radiofrequency in adipose tissue in healthy women: Randomized control trial. Vale, AL., Pereira, AS., Morais, A., et al.[2020]

Individuals with moderate cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) have lower total fat mass and abdominal fat compared to those with low CRF, even when controlling for body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC).

A 20-week aerobic exercise program led to significant reductions in total body fat and abdominal fat, independent of changes in BMI or WC, highlighting the effectiveness of exercise in improving body composition.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fitness alters the associations of BMI and waist circumference with total and abdominal fat. Janssen, I., Katzmarzyk, PT., Ross, R., et al.[2022]

Citations

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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8497689/

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The present study aims to investigate the associations between physical fitness performance and abdominal obesity risk among Taiwanese adults.