The benefits of physical activity for reducing visceral fat, according to a Quebec study

Just recently in the Journal de Montréal, it was reported that a Quebec study demonstrated the benefits of physical activity in reducing visceral fat. The accessible solution, according to the new study, is to " exercise ." ¹

These researchers warn of the risks associated with visceral fat, which is a major cause of overcrowding in our hospitals. Visceral fat forms under the muscular envelope of the abdomen (the hard belly) and around certain organs such as the liver and heart; a quarter of the population is affected by this problem - a risk factor for several ailments, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain forms of cancer, "fatty liver" disease, and even cognitive decline.

"Visceral obesity is a major cause of what is filling our hospitals," summarizes Professor Després at the Department of Kinesiology at the Faculty of Medicine at Laval University.

• The professor supervised a study at the Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec–Université Laval, involving 11 men in their sixties, recreational cyclists, so that they could take on a rather unusual challenge: cycling 1,144 km in one week, on the south shore of Quebec City. The challenge was carried out during the summers of 2018 and 2019 and the results were published in September 2024 in an American scientific publication.
• They underwent medical imaging to measure their visceral fat levels before and after. To limit the cyclists' weight loss as much as possible, their diet was increased to properly isolate this factor.
• Results: After one week, there was a 14.6% decrease in visceral fat in the participants. They reduced their waist circumference by 3 cm and had significantly lower levels of liver fat compared to a control group of less active individuals.
• The eleven participants in the study, including the professor who also took part in the experiment, cycled 1,140 km in one week, following a circuit in the Bellechasse region. This indicates that even without losing weight, physical activity helps mobilize this fat , according to Dominic Chartrand, a doctoral student in kinesiology and medicine at Laval University and lead author of the study.

According to the researchers, it is possible to learn lessons from this for everyday life, without having to repeat this extreme practice.

• Exercise is described as an incredible tool by Jean-Pierre Després, because no medication can fully exploit the benefits of physical exercise on physical and psychological health.
• The specialist encourages eating better, rather than adopting restrictive diets.

According to the scientific article, published in the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, the results support "the importance of promoting a physically active lifestyle rather than calorie restriction in preventing obesity" and show that "humans were designed to be physically active rather than to eat as little as possible." ²

The article earned a mention from the American Physiological Society as one of the best of September.

References

1. Dominique Lelièvre, September 20, 2024, https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2024/09/20/etude-sur-la-bedaine-dure--arretez-de-capoter-sur-votre-poids-puis-bougez-lance-un-chercheur

2. Dominic J. Chartrand, Adrien Murphy-Després, Isabelle Lemieux, Eric Larose, Paul Poirier, Jean-Pierre Després, Natalie Alméras, Effects of 1,144 km of road cycling performed in 7 days: a cardiometabolic imaging study, American Journal of physiology – Endocrinology and metabolism), 03 Sep 2024 https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00098.2024