A 12-week exercise snack intervention consisting of stair climbing significantly reduced abdominal visceral fat area and epicardial adipose tissue in sedentary obese adults compared to control (p < 0.05).
RCT (n=27)
single-blind
coin flip method
No
Does an exercise snack intervention of stair-climbing reduce ectopic fat and alter plasma metabolomics in sedentary obese adults?
Short, intermittent bouts of stair-climbing ('exercise snacks') effectively reduce epicardial and visceral fat in sedentary obese adults, likely mediated by alterations in amino acid metabolism.
p-value: p=<0.05
Obesity resulting from long-term sedentary a significant threat to human health. This study explores the effects of exercise snack intervention on body composition and plasma metabolomics in sedentary obese adults. Participants in the snack group were subjected to 4 days of sprint exercises by stair-climbing per week for 12 weeks. Systemic and regional fat mass, epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), abdominal visceral (AVFA) and subcutaneous (ASFA) fat area and plasma metabolomics data were measured before and after intervention. A higher improvement of EAT, AVFA and ASFA in the snack group compared to that in the control group, with a significant interaction effect (p < 0.05). The key differential metabolites between the two groups include isoleucine, glycine and serine. The proposed exercise snack effectively reduced the amount of AVFA and EAT. The change in body composition may be associated with the altered pathways of isoleucine, glycine, and serine metabolism.
Zhou et al. (2024) conducted an RCT in sedentary obesity (n=27). Exercise snacks (stair climbing) vs. No exercise was evaluated on Change in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), abdominal visceral (AVFA) and subcutaneous (ASFA) fat area (p=<0.05). A 12-week exercise snack intervention consisting of stair climbing significantly reduced abdominal visceral fat area and epicardial adipose tissue in sedentary obese adults compared to control (p < 0.05).