Effect of swim training on development of obesity in the genetically obese rat

Seven-week-old female lean and obese Zucker rats were swim trained or kept sedentary for 8 wk. Another group of obese rats was exercised plus food restricted. During exercise training, obese and lean rats ate more but gained less body weight than sedentary controls. Exercise favorably altered body composition, adipose cellularity, and plasma insulin of the obese rat. Exercise plus food restriction more dramatically affected body composition and adipose cellularity but was no more effective in depressing hyperinsulinemia than exercise alone. Following 8 wk of retirement, dorsal fat cell number remained depressed to formerly exercised obese rats whereas adipose cellularity in other depots, body composition, and plasma insulin were similar to control levels. Thus, exercise delayed but did not prevent the full development of obesity in the Zucker rat. Food restriction along with exercise resulted in more permanent effects on adipose cellularity than exercise alone but stunted muscle and skeletal growth.