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2005/01/22, 07:03 PM
Effects of diet and exercise
If status of adrenergic receptors play such an important role in fat accumulation and breakdown, one would suspect those fat depots with higher b-AR(beta-adrenoceptors) activity (e.g. women’s abdominal area) to lose fat faster than areas with higher a2-AR(alpha2-adrenoceptors) activity (e.g. women’s and men’s buttock area). Research has confirmed that compared to subcutaneous abdominal depots, visceral abdominal fat depots are preferentially reduced in response to dieting with and without exercise. Since the adipose tissue in women’s lower body is reportedly more resistant to catecholamine stimulation than men, we would expect men to lose more fat in their lower body than women during a diet or exercise. However, one study showed that this was not the case. There were no sex-related differences in fat loss during dieting and exercise. Nevertheless, results from this study must be used with caution because study subjects had a preponderance of upper-body obesity rather than typical gender-related patterns of obesity. Additionally, these patterns of fat loss may differ in non-obese men and women.
The same study showed in both genders that diet with exercise reduced abdominal fat more than lower-body fat, but not diet alone. This is consistent with other studies investigating bodyfat reduction regimes. The study also showed there were no sex-related differences in reduction of total bodyfat or in the lower body with diet or diet with exercise. A major finding was the preservation of skeletal muscle with exercise and diet versus diet alone. Another important implication of diet with exercise is that the increased reduction of visceral fat reduces metabolic risk factors, such as insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease.
While we are still unclear how female and male hormones influence bodyfat deposition, we know that a diet and exercise program will reduce overall fat deposition. We also know that both diet and exercise preferentially reduce visceral abdominal fat and increase health benefits. Including exercise in a weight reduction program also helps preserve skeletal muscle mass whereas dieting alone may not. In conclusion, I close this column with an appropriate quote:
"So we must exercise and control our bodies, because our natural lives won’t do it for us."1
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If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything....
bb1fit@freetrainers.com
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