EFFECTS OF UPPER AND LOWER BODY INTERVAL EXERCISE ON CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM AND INSULIN RESISTANCE IN OBESE WOMEN

Prevalence of obesity and overweight in women increases the possibility of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Based on the variety of the effects of different type of exercise and the differences in the upper and lower body muscle volume involved in the exercise, the effects of high intensity interval exercise with arm and leg ergometer on metabolism and insulin resistance might be different. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of upper and lower body interval exercise on carbohydrate metabolism and insulin resistance in obese women.

Twelve obese and overweight women (body mass index, 31.1±5.5 kg/m2) performed two interval exercise trials of 30-min on arm and leg ergometer with one week intervening. Interval exercise included 5 sets of 6 min in which 2- min activity at 85% VO2max and 4 min active rest at 45% VO2max was performed. Two blood samples were taken before and immediately after exercise for measuring glucose and insulin. VO2 and VCO2m were collected during exercise and used to calculate the amount of carbohydrate oxidation.

Although interval exercise reduced the insulin concentration, responses of insulin to upper and lower body exercises were not significantly different (P>0.05). Glucose level reduced following interval exercise, and this reduction was significantly (P<0.05) higher following lower body interval exercise than upper body exercise. Similarly the reductions in HOMA-IR were significantly (P<0.05) higher following lower body interval exercise than upper body exercise. Interval exercise resulted in increases in oxidation of carbohydrate, though; responses to upper and lower exercises were not significantly different.

It could be concluded that interval exercise in obese women leads to changes in carbohydrate metabolism and insulin resistance, and that the changes in insulin resistance are related to type of exercise (upper and lower body), though carbohydrate oxidation is not