Muscle tissue in obesity with different distribution of adipose tissue. Effects of physical training.

Obese men and women with the same body fat mass, as well as obese women in another study, were divided into groups with male or female type of body fat distribution, but again with similar body fat mass. The participants were examined with measurements of body composition, including muscle fiber distribution, as well as circulatory and metabolic variables before and after physical training under controlled conditions. Obese men had higher lean body mass, blood pressure, blood glucose and plasma insulin, C-peptide, cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations than age- and body fat-matched obese women. Obese women with male type of adipose tissue distribution showed the same differences (except cholesterol) in comparisons with women with female type of adipose tissue distribution. The women with male type obesity were also more insulin resistant in glucose clamp measurements, and had male type of muscle fiber distribution. Physical training in the group of obese men resulted in a decrease of body fat, a further increase of lean body mass, an increase of fast twitch, aerobic type, muscle fibres as well as lower plasma insulin, cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations and lower blood pressure. Obese women with male type distribution of adipose tissue responded to physical training essentially like men. The insulin sensitivity was improved to the same level as in obese women with female type of adipose tissue distribution. In contrast, the latter women showed an increase of body fat and no metabolic improvements after training. These results show that obese women with male type of body fat distribution also have male characteristics of muscle mass, morphology and function. It is suggested that the obesity complications associated with this condition are improved by physical training because of an adaptation to a negative energy balance, in combination with an improvement of insulin sensitivity of the muscle mass. In contrast, the failure of obese women with female type of adipose tissue distribution to adapt to a negative energy balance during physical training is probably explaining their failure to decrease body fat and to improve metabolism during physical training.