The Concept of CMR
Slides, videos and moreManaging CMR
Effects of Weight Loss on Adipose Tissue Distribution
Effect of Weight Loss on Intra-abdominal Obesity
- 1Key Points (1 page)
- 2Weight Loss and Abdominal Obesity (1 page)
- 3Exercise-induced Weight Loss and Intra-abdominal Fat Reduction (2 pages)
- 4Diet-induced Weight Loss and Intra-abdominal Fat Reduction (1 page)
- 5Is Exercise or Diet Better at Reducing Intra-abdominal Fat? (2 pages)
- 6Exercise Without Weight Loss and Intra-abdominal Fat Reduction (4 pages)
- 7References (1 page)
Exercise Without Weight Loss and Intra-abdominal Fat Reduction
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Figure 2: 
Figure 2: Although weight loss is the ideal outcome of chronic exercise in overweight individuals, the evidence suggests that even when body mass does not change, regular exercise can markedly reduce intra-abdominal fat and shrink waist circumference accordingly (17, 18, 45-48) (Figure 2). For example, approximately two months of regular, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can substantially reduce intra-abdominal fat (-41 to -45%) without causing weight change in samples of type 2 diabetic patients (45, 46). Even non-obese premenopausal women experience a significant reduction in intra-abdominal fat (-25%) after 6 months of aerobic exercise despite no significant change in weight (47). Several studies have specifically examined the effect of exercise on abdominal adiposity when weight is maintained by having study participants consume compensatory kilocalories equivalent to the amount expended during exercise (17, 18, 48). The length of each intervention was roughly 3 months and consisted of an energy expenditure of approximately 3,500 kcal/wk. The primary findings suggest that in obese Caucasian men and women, as well as in individuals with type 2 diabetes, exercise training can significantly reduce total and abdominal obesity even with little or no change in body weight.
Legend: IAF, Intra-abdominal fat. Exercise without weight loss can reduce both intra-abdominal fat (10-20%) and waist circumference. However, exercise-induced weight loss leads to greater reductions in both intra-abdominal fat (30%) and waist circumference.
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