Exercise for Belly Fat

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen by Michael D Jensen, MD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Recruiting

Sponsor: Mayo Clinic

Must not be taking: Glucose-lowering agents

Disqualifiers: Age < 18 or > 55, Pregnancy, Abdominal surgery, Systemic illness, Vascular disease

No Placebo Group

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to provide the first integrated examination of the interaction between muscle insulin action and exercise-stimulated muscle glucose uptake in obesity from the whole body to the cellular/molecular level.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you are using glucose-lowering agents.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Exercise, Physical Activity, Workout, Fitness Training for reducing belly fat?

Research shows that physical activity can help reduce belly fat, which is important because fat in the abdomen is linked to health risks. Exercise can target abdominal fat and improve overall health, even if there is minimal weight loss. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is exercise generally safe for humans?

Exercise is generally safe for humans, but pregnant women should be cautious with high-impact activities like running, which may pose a risk to fetal health. Low-impact exercises like walking are considered safe for pregnant women. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

How does exercise as a treatment for belly fat differ from other treatments?

Exercise is unique in reducing belly fat because it can lower total and abdominal fat without necessarily changing body weight or waist size, and it specifically targets visceral fat (fat around internal organs), which is linked to health risks. Unlike other treatments, exercise improves cardiorespiratory fitness, which is associated with lower fat levels, and aerobic exercise is particularly effective for reducing visceral fat. ^{1 2 3 8 9}

Research Team

Michael D Jensen, MD

Principal Investigator

Mayo Clinic

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for sedentary men with upper body obesity and sedentary, normal weight premenopausal women. Participants must be aged between 18 to 55 years, have been weight stable for two months, and willing to consent in writing. Those with systemic illness, vascular diseases, using glucose-lowering drugs or women who are pregnant can't join.

Inclusion Criteria

Weight stable for two (2) months prior to study.

Willing to provide written, informed consent.

I am a sedentary, normal weight, premenopausal woman.

Exclusion Criteria

I have had surgery in my upper stomach area before.

I have another active illness or cancer.

I have symptoms from large or small blood vessel problems.

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo exercise interventions to study muscle glucose uptake

1 hour

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Exercise (Behavioural Intervention)

Trial Overview The study is testing how exercise affects muscle glucose uptake in people with upper body obesity compared to those of normal weight. It aims to understand the relationship between insulin action in muscles and how exercise influences sugar use from a whole-body down to cellular level.

Participant Groups

Group I: Obese Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Lean Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Control

Find a Clinic Near You

Research Locations Nearby Select from list below to view details:

Mayo Clinic in Rochester Rochester, MN

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mayo Clinic

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,427

Recruited

3,221,000+

Dr. Gianrico Farrugia

Mayo Clinic

Chief Executive Officer since 2019

MD from University of Malta Medical School

Dr. Richard Afable

Mayo Clinic

Chief Medical Officer

MD from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Collaborator

Trials

2,513

Recruited

4,366,000+

Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Chief Executive Officer since 2007

MD, M.A.C.P.

Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Chief Medical Officer since 2007

MD, M.A.C.P.

Findings from Research

Individuals with moderate cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) have lower total fat mass and abdominal fat compared to those with low CRF, even when controlling for body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC).

A 20-week aerobic exercise program led to significant reductions in total body fat and abdominal fat, independent of changes in BMI or WC, highlighting the effectiveness of exercise in improving body composition.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fitness alters the associations of BMI and waist circumference with total and abdominal fat. Janssen, I., Katzmarzyk, PT., Ross, R., et al.[2022]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of an aerobic exercise session combined with abdominal radiofrequency on lipolytic activity in women: Randomized control trial. [2020]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of four sessions of aerobic exercise with abdominal radiofrequency in adipose tissue in healthy women: Randomized control trial. [2020]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cardiopulmonary fitness but not muscular fitness associated with visceral adipose tissue mass. [2022]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of aerobic exercise and obesity phenotype on abdominal fat reduction in response to weight loss. [2015]

5. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical activity in the treatment of obesity: beyond body weight reduction. [2016]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of pregnant female injury risk during everyday activities. [2009]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Obesity. Part I--Pathogenesis. [2018]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fitness alters the associations of BMI and waist circumference with total and abdominal fat. [2022]

9. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise and ectopic fat in type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. [2018]