Study of Resistance Versus Endurance Exercise on Fat Metabolism in Obese Postmenopausal Women with Prediabetes

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how resistance training compares to endurance training in improving fat metabolism in postmenopausal women who are obese and have prediabetes. The goal is to understand how these exercise types affect fat breakdown, fat synthesis, and blood sugar control, potentially helping to prevent type 2 diabetes. This study focuses on women aged 50 to 75 who are sedentary and not on hormone replacement therapy, to explore practical exercise approaches for improving metabolic health. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a resistance exercise group performing weightlifting or an endurance exercise group doing treadmill walking, each for 200 Kcal per session, three times a week over 12 weeks. The study involves detailed laboratory tests before and after the training, including microdialysis to measure fat breakdown in different body areas, blood flow monitoring with specific blockers, and insulin sensitivity tests using a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Some participants will also consume labeled water to analyze fat cell formation and fat synthesis over the course of the study. During the study, participants will undergo multiple laboratory visits for tissue biopsies, exercise testing with or without isotope tracers, and continuous monitoring of fat and glucose metabolism in daily life. Researchers will assess changes in fat breakdown, blood flow, body composition, hormone levels, and glucose control. The study lasts approximately 12 weeks of training with ongoing evaluation to understand how exercise type influences metabolic function in this group of women.

Exercise Training and Fat Metabolism in Postmenopausal Women