Short-term effects after a 3-month aerobic or anaerobic exercise programme in Hong Kong Chinese

Information on the beneficial effects of exercise in Chinese concerning weight reduction and fat loss is limited. We studied 18 young, healthy Chinese volunteers and assessed the short-term effects of exercise on their anthropometric and biochemical parameters. They had not done regular exercise before the study and were randomly assigned to aerobic or anaerobic exercise group (9 subjects in each group). Professional trainers on aerobic and anaerobic exercise were invited to teach and supervise the whole group on the exercise programme. The study lasted 3 months with exercise of at least 3 sessions per week of 30 min each. Of the 18 subjects, 7 (38.9%) were men and 11 (61.1%) women. Their mean age was 28.9 +/- 3.6 yr (men: 29.6 +/- 4.2 yr, women: 28.5 +/- 3.4 yr, p value: NS). After the 3-month exercise programme, body weight and body mass index reduction were significant only in the aerobic group but not in the anaerobic one, while body fat percentage was improved in both groups. This suggests anaerobic exercise may increase the lean to fat body mass ratio. Plasma glucose was reduced in the aerobic group but not in the anaerobic one. Plasma insulin level was, otherwise, similar before and after exercise in both groups. This is compatible with a blunted insulin hormonal response to endurance exercise and an improved tissue sensitivity to insulin.