Aerobic training has been used as one of the common treatments for type 2 diabetes; however, further research on the individualized exercise program with the optimal intensity is still necessary. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of supervised exercise training at the maximal fat oxidation (FATmax) intensity on body composition, glycemic control, lipid profile, and physical capacity in older people with type 2 diabetes. Twenty-four women and 25 men with type 2 diabetes, aged 60-69 years. The exercise groups trained at the individualized FATmax intensity for 1 h/day for 3 days/week over 16 weeks. No dietary intervention was introduced during the experimental period. Whole body fat, abdominal fat, oral glucose tolerance test, lipid profile, and physical capacity were measured before and after the interventions. FATmax intensity was at 41.3 ± 3.2% VO2max for women and 46.1 ± 10.3% VO2max for men. Exercise groups obtained significant improvements in body composition, with a special decrease in abdominal obesity; decreased resting blood glucose concentration and HbA1c; and increased VO2max, walking ability, and lower body strength, compared to the non-exercising controls. Daily energy intake and medication remained unchanged for all participants during the experimental period. Beside the improvements in the laboratory variables, the individualized FATmax training can also benefit daily physical capacity of older people with type 2 diabetes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pleiotropic effects of 12 weeks of supervised exercise training at maximal fat oxidation (FATmax) intensity on body composition, lipid profile, glycemic control, insulin sensitivity and serum adipokine levels in older women with type 2 diabetes. Thirty-one women with type 2 diabetes, aged 60 to 69 years, were randomly allocated into exercise and control groups. Body composition, lipid profile, blood glucose, insulin resistance and serum leptin and adiponectin concentrations were measured before and after the intervention. Exercise group (n=16) walked at individualized FATmax intensities for 1 h/day for 3 days/week over 12 weeks. No dietary intervention was introduced during the experimental period. Maximal fat oxidation rate was 0.37±0.10 g/min, and occurred at 37.3±7.3% of the estimated VO₂max. Within the exercise group, significant improvements were observed for most of the measured variables compared to non-exercising controls; in particular, the FATmax program reduced body fat% (p<0.001), visceral fat% (p<0.001), and insulin resistance (p<0.001). There was no significant change in daily energy intake for all participants during the intervention period. These results suggest that individualized FATmax training is an effective exercise training intensity for managing type 2 diabetes in older women.

Objectives: To explore the effects of exercise training on body composition, cardiovascular function, and physical fitness in 5-year-old obese and lean children.Methods: 42 obese and 62 lean children were randomly allocated into exercise and control groups separately. Body composition, cardiovascular function, and physical fitness were measured at baseline and the end of the intervention. The exercise groups participated in 10 weeks of supervised moderate intensity exercise training (at 50% of heart rate reserve), 50 training sessions in total.Results: The physical activity program was successfully completed and no sport injury occurred. Exercise training decreased BMI, waist circumference, body fat%, and fat mass; and slowed down the growth speed of body mass of both trained obese and lean children. Exercise training significantly decreased systolic blood pressure of obese children and decreased their heart rate responses during exercise. Trained obese children improved the performances of long jump, 10-m × 4 shuttle run, and 3-m balance beam walk; while trained lean children improved more items of physical fitness.Conclusions: 10 weeks of moderate intensity exercise training is an effective and safe treatment for children aged 5 years, either obese or with normal body mass.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on the skeletal muscle in Apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) and wild-type (WT) C57BL/6J mice. ApoE KO mice fed with a high-fat diet were randomly allocated into: Control group without exercise (ApoE^−/− CON), HIIT group (ApoE^−/− HIIT), and MICT group (ApoE^−/− MICT). Exercise endurance, blood lipid profile, muscle antioxidative capacity, and myokine production were measured after six weeks of interventions. ApoE^−/− CON mice exhibited hyperlipidemia and increased oxidative stress, compared to the WT mice. HIIT and MICT reduced blood lipid levels, ROS production, and protein carbonyl content in the skeletal muscle, while it enhanced the GSH generation and potently promoted mRNA expression of genes involved in the production of irisin and BAIBA. Moreover, ApoE^−/− HIIT mice had significantly lower plasma HDL-C content, mRNA expression of MyHC-IIx and Vegfa165 in EDL, and ROS level; but remarkably higher mRNA expression of Hadha in the skeletal muscle than those of ApoE^−/− MICT mice. These results demonstrated that both exercise programs were effective for the ApoE KO mice by attenuating the oxidative damage and promoting the myokines response and production. In particular, HIIT was more beneficial to reduce the ROS level in the skeletal muscle.