The effects of vigorous physical activity on intra-abdominal fat levels: A preliminary study of middle-aged Japanese men

Abstract 

Aim

To examine the effects of vigorous physical activity (PA) on intra-abdominal fat (IF) levels in obese men.

Methods

Thirty-seven obese men (mean age: 47.6±8.6 years) engaged in a 12-week aerobic exercise program on a regular basis (3 days/week). We divided them into low volume of vigorous PA group (n=19) or high volume of vigorous PA group (n=18), based on the median time spent (34.3min/week) in vigorous PA (over 6.1 metabolic equivalents assessed by a single-axis accelerometer) throughout the program.

Results

Regular exercise reduced IF levels (measured by computed tomography) from 188.1±53.9cm² to 170.3±46.6cm² for the low volume of vigorous PA group and from 167.9±44.3cm² to 137.9±40.6cm² for the high volume of vigorous PA group. Two-way (time×group) ANOVA revealed no significant interactions for the IF level. However, correlation analysis for all participants showed that time spent in vigorous PA throughout the program significantly correlated to IF reductions after adjusting for initial levels of IF, vigorous PA and weight changes (r=−0.42, P=0.02).

Conclusion

This study suggests that vigorous PA may affect IF reductions in obese men.

Keywords: Physical activity, Intensity, Intra-abdominal fat