Exercise Can Reduce Size Of Fat Cells

Filed in archive Exercise on August 9, 2006

Specifically, abdominal fat cells, the ones considered most hazardous to your health. Although most people associate dieting with reducing fat, research shows that exercise is also crucial.

The message is very clear," said Tongjian You, PhD, instructor in geriatric medicine at Wake forest Baptist and lead author. "Exercise is important to reducing the size of these cells, and may one day be part of a prescription for treating the health complications associated with abdominal fat."

Abdominal fat is associated with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms that increases the risk for heart disease and diabetes. The syndrome is diagnosed when someone has at least three of the following: abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein ("good") cholesterol, high blood pressure and increased levels of sugar in the blood.

Diabetics especially need to consider the results of this study, as 'metabolic' syndrome often leads to full-blown diabetes.