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Updated: May 29, 2026

Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Acute Effects of Strength Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Adults
Published on: December 1, 2023
Aerobic and resistance training effects compared to aerobic training alone in obese type 2 diabetic patients on diet
Pietro Lucotti1, Lucilla D Monti, Emanuela Setola
1San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Cardio-Metabolic and Clinical Trials Unit, Internal Medicine Department, and Metabolic and Cardiovascular Science Division, Milan 20132, Italy.
Aims:
The study was designed to compare a combined aerobic and resistance training (ART) with an aerobic training (AT) over hemodynamic, glucose metabolism and endothelial factors, adipokines and pro-inflammatory marker release in a population of obese type 2 diabetic patients.
Methods:
Forty-seven patients were randomly assigned to aerobic (27 patients) or aerobic plus resistance (20 patients) exercise trainings, on the top of a diet regime. Anthropometric, metabolic, hormonal and inflammatory variables were measured at hospitalization and discharge.
Results:
Both exercise programs equally improved body weight and fructosamine levels however ART only partially decreased HOMA index compared with AT (ART: -25% vs AT: -54%, p<0.01). Mean blood pressure (AT: -3.6 mmHg vs ART: +0.6 mmHg, p<0.05) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) incremental areas during walking test (AT: -11% vs ART: +30%, p<0.001) decreased after AT while increased after ART. Adiponectin levels increased by 54% after AT while decreased by 13% after ART (p<0.0001) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and monocyte chemoattractan protein-1 (MCP-1) levels significantly decreased in AT while increased in ART group.
Conclusions:
Compared with AT, ART similarly enhanced body weight loss but exerted less positive effects on insulin sensitivity and endothelial factors, adipokines and pro-inflammatory marker release.
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