Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered that long-term exercise can significantly improve the health of subcutaneous adipose tissue, the fat-storing tissue located directly beneath the skin. This breakthrough study, published in the journal Nature Metabolism, compared two groups of adults with overweight or obesity: one group consisting of regular exercisers and another group of sedentary non-exercisers. The findings reveal that engaging in endurance-type exercise for over two years results in healthier fat tissue, characterized by more blood vessels, mitochondria, and beneficial proteins.
Led by Jeffrey Horowitz, the research team collected adipose tissue samples from 16 regular exercisers and 16 sedentary individuals, with each group comprising eight males and eight females. These tissue samples revealed that those who exercised regularly exhibited less of a collagen type known to interfere with metabolism and fewer inflammatory cells compared to their sedentary counterparts. This promising discovery suggests that regular exercise can enhance the health of fat-storing blood vessels and expand the capacity for lipid storage in adipose tissue.
Mir Ali, a board-certified bariatric surgeon, emphasized that while surgeries like liposuction can remove fat, people cannot eliminate it entirely. He explained:
“A normal body has fat cells. So when patients go up and down in weight, they deposit the fat back in the cells they have, and then as they lose weight they burn that fat off, but the fat cells don’t go away.” – Mir Ali, MD
Ali further noted that genetic factors largely determine how a person’s body distributes fat. He stated:
“The way somebody’s body distributes fat is really determined primarily genetically, and there are some general considerations. Men tend to deposit fat more around the middle of the belly, women tend to be more on the hips, but, it’s really something you can’t change.” – Mir Ali, MD
The study focused specifically on subcutaneous fat in the belly area. By comparing the exercisers with sedentary individuals, researchers identified an improvement in insulin sensitivity and a reduction in insulin resistance in areas with healthier adipose tissues. Ng, another researcher involved in the study, remarked on the varying effects of subcutaneous adipose tissue:
“Subcutaneous adipose tissue can have different effects on the body depending upon the location of the adipose tissue, with some adipose tissue depots working to increase insulin sensitivity and reduce insulin resistance, for example.” – Ng
The research was financially supported by several institutions, including the School of Kinesiology and the Department of Biostatistics at the University of Michigan. Moving forward, the team aims to conduct long-term studies tracking individuals as they embark on and maintain exercise programs over several years.
Ali also highlighted how weight gain as people age may result from various factors:
“You generally replace muscle mass with fat mass, hormonal changes such as menopause in women for example, and generally less physical activity, and dietary reasons. All of these can contribute to weight gain as we age.” – Mir Ali, MD
Featured Image courtesy of Science Alert
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