According to a recent study from researchers at the University of Michigan, individuals with obesity who have consistently exercised over a long period possess healthier belly fat tissue and are more efficient at storing fat compared to those with obesity who do not exercise.
A study conducted by a team from the University of Michigan indicates that people with obesity who have engaged in regular exercise for many years have healthier abdominal fat and can store fat more effectively than their sedentary counterparts.
The research team cultivated fat tissue in a laboratory using cells from both exercising and non-exercising individuals, discovering that the fat cells from those who exercised turned into tissue capable of fat storage more effectively.
Principal investigator Jeffrey Horowitz, a professor of movement science at the U-M School of Kinesiology, stated, “Our results suggest that alongside burning calories, long-term regular exercise appears to alter fat tissue, enabling healthier body fat storage when weight gain occurs, which is common as we age.”
The researchers aimed to investigate the impact of prolonged exercise on fat tissue, though conducting a long-term study presented challenges. Instead, they compared two groups: 16 adults with obesity who exercised at least four times weekly for a minimum of two years (averaging 11 years), and 16 adults who did not engage in regular exercise but were similar in terms of body fat, weight, and gender. The researchers collected samples of subcutaneous fat tissue from both groups.
The findings revealed that those who exercised exhibited unique structural and biological traits in their fat tissue, enhancing its ability to store fat. In contrast, non-exercisers lacked these traits. Specifically, the exercisers had a higher number of blood vessels, mitochondria, and beneficial proteins, while showing lower levels of a type of collagen that can hinder metabolism and fewer inflammation-causing cells.
This distinction is crucial because the ideal location for fat storage is in the subcutaneous adipose tissue just below the skin, where the samples were obtained. By enhancing the fat storage capacity in this area through exercise, individuals reduce the likelihood of fat accumulating in harmful regions, such as around organs or within them.
Horowitz remarked, “In comparison to our prior study that analyzed the effects of three months of exercise on fat tissue, we observe that the differences are more pronounced in those who have exercised consistently for years compared to those who have not.”
It’s important to clarify that having a greater capacity to store fat does not mean an increase in fat, which is associated with overeating.
“It indicates that when individuals do gain weight, this additional fat is more likely to be stored healthily under the skin rather than in visceral fat around organs or in the organs themselves, like the liver or heart,” Horowitz explained.
One condition related to unhealthy fat accumulation, gaining prominence in the U.S. and beyond, is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, commonly affecting individuals who are overweight or obese. This condition involves excess fat buildup in the liver, potentially leading to serious issues like cirrhosis, typically linked to alcohol use, or cancer.
Horowitz emphasized the necessity of conducting long-term studies to monitor individuals who initiate and sustain an exercise routine over several years, to observe any changes in their fat tissue, even if their overall fat levels do not alter. It is also vital to investigate whether certain types or intensities of exercise yield more effective outcomes in fat tissue modification.
In subsequent research, the team will explore whether the fat tissue derived from exercisers and non-exercisers operates differently and if there are additional health-related variations that could influence both tissue and overall health of the individuals from whom the cells were derived.
