Modest Exercise Can Reduce Negative Effects of Belly Fat
Results from a study conducted by the University of Illinois suggest that moderate amounts of exercise alone can reduce visceral fat, also known as belly fat. Belly fat is said to be particularly dangerous to our health because it produces inflammatory molecules that can enter the bloodstream and increase the risk of chronic illnesses.
According to the University professor, Jeffrey Woods, “obese people have higher levels of circulating inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive proteins, which are produced and secreted by fat tissue. This inflammation then triggers the systemic diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.”
In this study, Woods and his colleagues examined the effects of diet and exercise on the inflammation of belly fat tissue in mice after a high-fat diet was used to induce obesity. After six weeks, the mice were assigned to a sedentary group, an exercise group, a low-fat diet group, or a group that combined a low-fat diet with exercise. Maybe people will react differently, but only the sedentary mice got the inflammation that usually results from having big bellies.
”The surprise was that the combination of diet and exercise didn””t yield dramatically different and better results than diet or exercise alone,” says Victoria Vieira, a University of Illinois Ph.D. candidate and the study”’’s lead author.
Please note: Exercise does not take the place of healthy eating habits. While this study has shown that you may still be able to lose weight even if your diet is high in fat, high-fat diets are known to create a variety of health problems, including diabetes, so be sure to make healthy food choices and get some exercise in the meantime.
Further Reading
Content on this blog is for reference purposes and is not intended to substitute for advice given by a physician, pharmacist, or other licensed health-care professional. You should not use this information as self-diagnosis or for treating a health problem or disease. Contact your health-care provider immediately if you suspect that you have a medical problem. Information and statements on this blog regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.
Weight Management | Energetic Nutrition | October 31, 2009
belly fat, c-reactive protein, inflammation, type 2 diabetes, Weight Management
