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5 Jun 2014

Is exercise less effective if you’re overweight?

Health experts at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ want to find out whether overweight and lean people respond to exercise in the same way.

Studies in animals suggest that being overweight can impair muscle growth, making exercise less effective. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s scientists want to find out whether this is also the case for humans.

Muscle mass plays an important role in controlling blood sugars and preventing Type 2 Diabetes, as well as increasing resting metabolic rate, so is important for both fat loss and long-term health.

Preliminary tests at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ have shown that muscles in overweight individuals haven’t adapted to their additional body weight, making them no stronger than their leaner counterparts.

This study will explore this further so that effective exercise and weight loss strategies can be developed for overweight and obese populations.   

Dr Carl Hulston in º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences (SSEHS) is leading the study. He said:

“We want to understand whether there are underlying factors linked to obesity that stop exercise being as effective as it should be.

“It may be that once people reach a certain percentage body fat it is harder for them to grow muscle, which in turn impacts on their ability to exercise and lose weight.

“We hope this research will uncover important information to help address the current obesity epidemic.”

Researchers are looking to recruit men and women aged 18-40 with a BMI over 30, who typically take part in less than 90 minutes of exercise a week.

Participants will need to visit the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ lab twice, to take part in some short resistance exercise training, and have measurements and some muscle biopsies taken. On completion of the study, volunteers will each be given 24 one-day passes to the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ branch of LA fitness.   

The study is funded through the Society for Endocrinology.

Anyone interested in taking part should contact Dr Carl Hulston on 01509 226 449 or email c.j.hulston@lboro.ac.uk

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR 14/109

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It was awarded the coveted Sunday Times University of the Year title in 2008-09 and has been named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and has been voted England's Best Student Experience for six years running in the Times Higher Education league. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ in London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.

Contact for all media enquiries

Amanda Overend
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º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ
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