Just one week of strength training was enough to increase visceral fat breakdown in obese mice, even though their body weight had not yet changed. Researchers at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) found that seven days of exercise activated biological processes that break down stored fat, reduced the size of fat cells, and lowered the amount of fat surrounding the animals' intestines. The study, published in the journal Life Sciences, was designed to examine what happens to adipose tissue during the earliest stages of strength training, before weight loss could influence the results.
Supported by FAPESP, the research builds on nearly two decades of work investigating how exercise affects metabolic health. Since 2007, the research group has explored the biological mechanisms behind the effects of physical activity on conditions including obesity and diabetes. As molecular analysis techniques have improved, the scientists have expanded their focus beyond visible outcomes such as weight loss and muscle gain to investigate changes taking place inside cells.
"We've always heard that physical exercise burns fat and helps you lose weight. But we rarely stop to think about how that happens, how much exercise is needed, and what that fat burning actually means," says Leandro Moura, a physician, physical education professional, professor at UNICAMP, author of the study, and coordinator of the Exercise Cell Biology Lab (ECeBiL). This group is dedicated to studying the physiological, metabolic, and biomolecular adaptations induced by physical exercise and sports.
How the Strength Training Experiment Worked The experiments involved male mice. One group received a standard diet, while another was given a high-fat diet to induce obesity. The obese mice were then separated into two groups.
One remained sedentary, while the other completed a strength training program. Both obese groups continued eating the same high-fat diet during the experiment. By keeping their diets identical, the researchers could more clearly isolate the effects of exercise.
To mimic strength training, the mice climbed a 70-centimeter staircase while carrying weights attached to their tails. Each workout was performed at 70% maximum capacity and consisted of 20 climbs, with 60 to 90 seconds of rest between climbs. The animals completed seven training sessions in total.
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