Study Highlights Benefits of Weightlifting for Blood Sugar Control
Recent research indicates that weightlifting may be more effective than running for controlling blood sugar levels and preventing diabetes. A team from Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute conducted a study that sheds light on the advantages of resistance training, which includes exercises such as weightlifting and bodyweight workouts.
In their study, the researchers aimed to explore how different forms of exercise affect metabolism. They fed lab mice a high-fat diet to replicate conditions similar to human obesity and insulin resistance—two primary risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
The researchers organized the mice into two groups: one was assigned to endurance training, where they ran on wheels, while the other group engaged in strength training by lifting weights to access their food, akin to squatting.
After several weeks, both groups displayed significant health improvements compared to inactive mice, such as reduced body fat and enhanced blood sugar control. However, the results showed that the mice performing strength training had the upper hand.
Zhen Yan, director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, noted, “Our data indicated that both types of exercise help lessen fat in the abdomen and improve blood glucose management, but weightlifting provides even greater health benefits.”
The strength-training mice not only reduced fat under their skin but also lowered visceral fat, the more harmful type that surrounds internal organs and increases diabetes risk. Additionally, they were more effective at clearing sugar from their blood compared to the mice that ran.
This study found that the benefits weren’t merely due to increased muscle mass; resistance training triggered specific metabolic changes and improved muscle signaling that aided in better glucose control.
While the research focused on mice, it adds to the growing evidence supporting strength training as a vital component for metabolic health. This could be a positive realization for people who find lengthy cardio sessions challenging, showing that resistance training can be a practical alternative.
Yan advised that combining both cardio and strength training will yield the best results for overall health. He emphasized, “The key takeaway is that engaging in both types of exercise, if possible, can maximize health advantages.”
The findings were published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science.
