New research published in Nature Metabolism suggests that overweight individuals who are long-term participants in endurance exercise have healthier belly fat than overweight individuals who do not exercise.
The study included 32 participants; half of the participants reported that they had exercised at least four times a week for at least the last two years (with an average of 11 years), while the other half of the participants reported that they had never exercised regularly. The two groups of participants were matched in terms of weight, body fat, and sex. The two groups were then compared in terms of the structure and metabolic function of their belly fat. While it is known that regular exercise can improve cardiovascular and metabolic health in overweight individuals, the impact of exercise on fat storage, especially in the abdominal region, is unclear.
The results showed that the group of participants who exercised regularly showed unique structural and metabolic characteristics in their belly fat compared to the non-exercisers. Exercisers had more blood vessels, more mitochondria, and more beneficial proteins in their fat stores, all of which allowed them to store more fat under their skin. They also had fewer cells that can cause inflammation and less of a type of collagen that can interfere with metabolism in their belly fat.
Fat stored directly under the skin is healthier than fat stored in other places around the belly, such as around the organs or even within certain organs. The authors stated that people who exercise are more likely to store fat in healthy places if they gain weight, whereas non-exercisers a more likely to store weight in unhealthy places. Storing weight in unhealthy places, such as around the organs, can lead to health conditions such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, heart disease, and diabetes.
Sources: Science Daily, Nature Metabolism
