Scientists have studied the role of strength training for the body
Strength training can affect adipose tissue even before noticeable changes in body weight. The scientists found that after a short course of training, the size of fat cells and the breakdown of stored fat changed in mice, although the total weight of the animals remained the same. About early changes in adipose tissue under the influence of strength training — in the material of Izvestia.
The changes started without weight loss
The study was published in the journal Life Sciences. The researchers studied how a short period of strength training affects adipose tissue in obese mice. The animals were divided into a sedentary group and a group performing strength exercises. A total of seven training sessions were held.
Leandro Moura, a specialist in physical education and the author of the study
We calculated how much weight each mouse can carry while climbing the stairs. Obviously, it is impossible to accurately reproduce strength training performed by humans, but we managed to induce a similar effort in the body with more intense contractions, effectively simulating strength training for humans.
During this time, the body weight of the mice did not noticeably change. At the same time, the number of mesenteric adipose tissue and the size of fat cells decreased in the animals that trained. Mesenteric fat refers to the visceral adipose tissue that is located inside the abdominal cavity next to the internal organs.
Fat cells have switched to active cleavage
The researchers also found changes in the molecular processes associated with lipolysis, the breakdown of fats stored inside cells. In obese mice, this mechanism was disrupted, whereas after exercise, its activity increased.
The interaction of ABHD5 and ATGL proteins turned out to be one of the important processes. It is involved in triggering the breakdown of triglycerides, which largely make up fat reserves. After a short course of exercise, other molecular parameters related to fat metabolism changed, including the PLIN1 protein and the activity of the Scd1 gene.
Visceral fat was the first target of the changes
The results show that the response of adipose tissue to physical activity can begin at the level of the cells themselves even before the changes become noticeable in body weight. In this case, particularly pronounced changes were found in mesenteric adipose tissue.
The authors attribute the results obtained to a change in the ability of fat cells to mobilize accumulated lipids. At the same time, we are talking specifically about molecular and structural changes in tissues, and not about a proven decrease in body weight after a short period of training.
Leandro Moura
People tend to think that if they did strength training for two months and didn't lose weight, it didn't do any good. <...> We saw that after just seven days of strength training — even when weight loss was still not observed - the molecular pathways promoting fat accumulation were less active, while while those that stimulate fat breakdown were more active.
Seven workouts is not a result for a person.
The study was conducted on mice, so its results cannot be directly transferred to humans. In addition, the scientists assessed the body's early response to physical activity, rather than long-term changes in body weight or body composition.
The next step may be to study longer training sessions and the reactions of other fat stores. The authors are also considering the possibility of further studying the fatty tissue around the heart. The data obtained show that the absence of changes on the scales does not necessarily mean the absence of early metabolic changes in the body.
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