Differences emerge in visceral adipose tissue accumulation after selection for innate cardiovascular fitness

The Preventive Role of Exercise on the Physiological, Psychological, and Psychophysiological Parameters of Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): A Mini Review

The world has been severely challenged by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak since the early 2020s. Worldwide, there have been more than 66 million cases of infection and over 3,880,450 deaths caused by this highly contagious disease. All sections of the population including those who are affected, those who are not affected and those who have recovered from this disease, are suffering physiologically, psychologically or psychophysiologically. In this paper we briefly discuss the consequences of COVID-19 on physiological, psychological and psychophysiological vulnerability. We also attempt to provide evidence in support of exercise management as a prevention strategy for improving and minimizing the physiological, psychological and psychophysiological effects of COVID-19. Moderate exercise including walking, yoga and tai-chi to name but a few exercise regimes are critical in preventing COVID-19 and its complications. Governments, public health authorities and the general population should maintain physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent additional physical and mental distress.

A Preventive Role of Exercise Across the Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Pandemic

The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a significant threat to human health around the world. A severe risk of infection has been observed in elderly populations. In addition, individuals with obesity and obesity-related comorbidities have also been identified to be at a higher risk of infection for COVID-19. We have attempted here to provide evidence in support of exercise management as a prevention strategy for improving health and minimizing the effects of COVID-19. Therefore, exercise duration, frequency, and intensity benefits are summarized in an attempt to provide guidelines for the general population. In terms of exercise effects, there are multiple benefits of exercise related to human health. These include, decreases in adipose tissue, improvements in cardio-respiratory fitness, enhanced metabolic homeostasis, and suppress inflammation active. With respect to the amount of exercise performed individuals should exercise at a moderate intensity for at least 150 min/wk as an initial target. Increases in intensity and duration of exercise training are necessary for significant fitness benefits, weight loss, and prevention of weight regain. In relation to walking, 10,000 steps/day at a rate of 64-170 steps/minute for at least 10 min duration is reasonable for healthy adults. For exercise intensity, a combination of resistance training (RT), aerobic training (AT) as well as high-intensity interval training (HIIT) incorporated with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) can be recognized as an optimal exercise mode for health benefits. Aerobic training and MICT should be viewed as a basis for exercise in combination with appropriate volumes and types of RT and HIIT. Activities should be performed according to professional guidelines and advice. If implemented, these measures may reduce infection rates, underlying pathologies, and assist in decreasing mortality associated with COVID-19 pandemic.

Sedentary Time and MRI-Derived Measures of Adiposity in Active Versus Inactive Individuals

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine cross-sectional associations between objectively measured sedentary time and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-assessed adiposity in a population at high risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and to determine whether associations are modified by the recommended levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

METHODS

Sedentary time and MVPA were measured objectively by using accelerometers. Linear regression models examined the association of sedentary time with liver, visceral, subcutaneous, and total abdominal fat (quantified by using MRI). Interaction terms determined whether results were consistent across activity categories (active [> 150 min/wk of MVPA] vs. inactive [< 150 min/wk of MVPA]).

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-four participants (age = 64.0 ± 7.1 years; male = 65.3%; BMI = 31.8 ± 5.6 kg/m² ) were included. Following adjustment, each 60 minutes of sedentary time was associated with 1.74 L higher total abdominal fat, 0.62 L higher visceral fat, 1.14 L higher subcutaneous fat, and 1.86% higher liver fat. When results were stratified by MVPA (active vs. inactive), sedentary time was associated with greater liver, visceral, and total abdominal fat in the inactive group only.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that sedentary time is associated with higher levels of inter- and intraorgan fat, but associations with liver, visceral, and total abdominal fat were stronger in those who do not reach the current exercise recommendations for health.

The association between cardiorespiratory fitness and abdominal adiposity in postmenopausal, physically inactive South Asian women

In South Asians, a unique obesity phenotype of high abdominal fat is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with abdominal fat and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether CRF as assessed by VO2 peak, in post-menopausal South Asian women, was associated with body fat distribution and abdominal fat. Physically inactive post-menopausal South Asian women (n = 55) from the Greater Vancouver area were recruited and assessed from January to August 2014. At baseline, VO2 peak was measured with the Bruce Protocol, abdominal fat with CT imaging, and body composition with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. ANOVA was used to assess differences in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and total abdominal adipose tissue (TAAT) between tertiles of CRF. Bivariate correlation and multiple linear regression analyses explored the association between VO2 peak with SAAT, VAT, TAAT and body composition. Models were further adjusted for body fat and body mass index (BMI). Compared to women in the lowest tertile of VO2 peak (13.8-21.8 mL/kg/min), women in the highest tertile (25.0-27.7 mL/kg/min) had significantly lower waist circumference, BMI, total body fat, body fat percentage, lean mass, SAAT, VAT and TAAT (p < 0.05). We found VO2 peak to be negatively associated with SAAT, VAT and TAAT, independent of age and body fatness but not independent of BMI. Further research is necessary to assess whether exercise and therefore improvements in CRF would alter SAAT, VAT and TAAT in post-menopausal South Asian women.

Type II diabetes disparities in diverse women: the potential roles of body composition, diet and physical activity

The rates of diabetes in the USA are rapidly increasing, and vary widely across different racial/ethnic groups. This paper explores the potential contribution of body composition, diet and physical activity in explaining diabetes disparities across women of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. For body composition, racial/ethnic groups differ widely by BMI, distribution of body mass and quantity and type of adipose tissue. Dietary patterns that vary across race/ethnicity include consumption of meat, added sugars, high-glycemic carbohydrates and fast food. Additionally, physical activity patterns of interest include aerobic versus muscle-strengthening exercises, and the purpose of physical activity (leisure, occupation, or transportation). Overall, these variables provide a partial picture of the source of these widening disparities, and could help guide future research in addressing and reducing diabetes disparities.

Diet, exercise or diet with exercise: comparing the effectiveness of treatment options for weight-loss and changes in fitness for adults (18-65 years old) who are overfat, or obese; systematic review and meta-analysis

There are number of means of methods to alter body composition, and metabolic issues, available for the adult who is overfat. The following is a systematic review and meta-analysis focused on comparing changes from treatment program for adults who are overfat based on analysis of aggregated effect size (ES) of inducing changes. So as to determine the relative effectiveness of such protocols and intervention plans of choice. This tiered meta-analysis of 66-population based studies, and 162-studywise groups, a clear pattern of ES being established across and within treatments. First, hypocaloric balance is necessary for changing body composition, but the effectiveness for establishing imbalance does not equate with the effectiveness for body compositional changes, or any biomarkers associated with metabolic issues. With analysis showing that there is a necessity to include exercise in combination with diet effectively elicit changes in body composition and biomarkers of metabolic issues. More importantly, the combination, resistance training (RT) was more effective than endurance training (ET) or combination of RT and ET, particularly when progressive training volume of 2-to-3 sets for 6-to-10 reps at an intensity of ≥75% 1RM, utilizing whole body and free-weight exercises, at altering body compositional measures (ES of 0.47, 0.30, and 0.40 for loss of BM, FM, and retention of FFM respectively) and reducing total cholesterol (ES = 0.85), triglycerides (ES = 0.86) and low-density lipoproteins (ES = 0.60). Additionally RT was more effective at reducing fasting insulin levels (ES = 3.5) than ET or ET and RT. Even though generally lower ES than RT, the inclusion of ET was more effective when performed at high intensity (e.g. ≥70% VO2max or HRmax for 30-minutes 3-4x's/wk), or in an interval training style than when utilizing the relatively common prescribed method of low-to-moderate (e.g., 50-70% VO2max or HRmax for at least equal time) steady state method, ES of 0.35, 0.39, and 0.13 for BM, FM, and FFM respectively. Thus indicating that focus of treatment should be on producing a large metabolic stress (as induced by RT or high levels of ET) rather than an energetic imbalance for adults who are overfat.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity in metabolically healthy overweight and obese youth

OBJECTIVE

Controversy exists surrounding the contribution of fitness and adiposity as determinants of the Metabolically Healthy Overweight(MHO) phenotype in youth. This study investigated the independent contribution of cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity to the MHO phenotype among overweight and obese youth.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 108 overweight and obese youth classified as MHO (no cardiometabolic risk factors) or non-MHO (≥1 cardiometabolic risk factor), based on age- and gender specific cut-points for fasting glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and hepaticsteatosis.

RESULTS

Twenty-five percent of overweight and obese youth were classified as MHO. This phenotype was associated with lower BMIz-score (BMI z-score: 1.8 ± 0.3 vs 2.1 ± 0.4, P = .02) and waist circumference (99.7 ± 13.2 vs 106.1 ± 13.7 cm, P = .04) compared with non-MHO youth. When matched for fitness level and stratified by BMI z-score (1.6 ± 0.3 vs 2.4 ± 0.2), the prevalence of MHO was four fold higher in the low BMI z-score group (27% vs 7%; P = .03).Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that the best predictor of MHO was the absence of hepatic steatosis even after adjusting for waist circumference (odds ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.40–0.80) or BMI z-score (odds ratio 0.59, 95% confidence interval 0.43–0.80).

CONCLUSIONS

The MHO phenotype was present in 25% of overweight and obese youth and is strongly associated with lower levels of adiposity,and the absence of hepatic steatosis, but not with cardiorespiratory fitness.

An overview of the contribution of fatness and fitness factors, and the role of exercise, in the formation of health status for individuals who are overweight

Over the last half century there has been an epidemic of diminished health status induced by what seems as a concurrent rise in a population of individuals that are overfat. During the past few decades, the use of exercise has become a staple in the prevention and treatment options for the retarding the development of health issues pertaining to individuals who are overweight, overfatness or experience obesity. However, there are few studies and reviews look at the global issues surrounding the metabolic and hormone consequences of overfatness and the interaction of exercise with adiposity in humans developing the health status for the individual. This review offers an insight into our current understanding of health issues pertaining to metabolic and hormonal disruption related to overfatness and the treatment effect that exercise, especially resistance exercise, can have on impacting the health status, and overall well-being, for individuals who are overfat, regardless of body compositional changes leading toward a lessening of diseased state, and eventually a return to a normal health status for the individual.

Effects of insulin sensitivity, body composition, and fitness on lipoprotein particle sizes and concentrations determined by nuclear magnetic resonance

CONTEXT

Insulin resistance has been reported to be associated with development of atherogenic dyslipidemia. However, the confounding effects that obesity and low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness have on the relationship between insulin resistance and the development of atherogenic dyslipidemia remain to be adequately addressed.

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to examine the independent and combined effects of insulin sensitivity, body composition, and cardiorespiratory fitness on lipoprotein particle sizes and concentrations.

METHODS

Eight-four healthy, nondiabetic men (n = 43) and women (n = 41) were studied. The participants had a wide range of ages (18-30 and 65-80 yr), body composition (7.2-52.8% fat), and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO(2) peak, 13.5-66.2 ml/kg · min). Body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, insulin sensitivity, and lipoprotein particle profiles were assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively.

RESULTS

Low levels of insulin sensitivity and cardiorespiratory fitness and higher levels of adiposity were associated with the accumulation of small, dense, low-density lipoprotein particles; small high-density lipoprotein particles; triglycerides; and very low-density lipoprotein particles. Multivariate forward-stepwise regression revealed that higher levels of adiposity, in particular truncal fat, were the strongest predictor of the lipoprotein particle size and concentration data, followed by insulin sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

As expected, the accumulation of atherogenic lipoprotein particles (e.g. small, dense, low-density lipoprotein particles and small, high-density lipoprotein particles) was associated with low levels of insulin sensitivity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and higher levels of adiposity. However, multivariate forward-stepwise regression revealed that triglycerides, followed by truncal fat mass, were the strongest predictors of the lipoprotein particle size and concentration data.