Even the smallest amount of exercise for sedentary, overweight
people proves to make a difference, according to studies.
By controlling the amount of food and drink formally sedentary,
overweight people consumed during and after short-term exercise,
researchers noted a significant impact on insulin action. Further,
there was a considerable effect on the subjects' cardiovascular
disease (CVD) risk factors.
The study involved two groups of eight, who exercised for a time
span of six days. During the six days, the subjects participated
in enough treadmill exercise to burn 500 kilocalories (k/cal) a
day, walking 60-65 percent of maximum vital oxygen capacity.
All subjects were previously sedentary
and overweight. They were matched according to:
- Age: 30-60
- Physical characteristics
Insulin action was measured before the six days of exercise and
then again the day after, when the fixed energy balance was over.
Researchers were hoping to find out where energy balance fit in
relation to improved insulin levels following a bout of short-term
exercise.
The subjects in the first group, the negative energy balance (NEG)
group, showed a 40 percent increase in insulin action. The second
group, the zero energy balance group (ZERO), who were required to
finish an energy drink during exercise, as well as consume food
afterward to replace the 500 k/cal burned, demonstrated no change
in insulin action.
Moreover, subjects in the NEG group showed positive changes in
traditional and novel CVD risk factors, while subjects in the ZERO
group showed neither positive nor negative changes.
These findings reinforced the important role of exercise in managing
blood sugar levels in both pre-diabetics and Type-2 diabetics.
Interesting enough, two of the sponsors of this study were Gatorade
Sports Science Institute and Pfizer, Inc.
EurekAlert
October 7, 2004
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