Have you ever wondered how exercising affects your body fat beyond just burning calories? A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan found that long-term exercise can actually help the body store fat in a healthier way.
Body fat is essential for providing insulation, storing and releasing energy, and sending hormone signals to other organs through blood vessels and nerve cells in fat tissue. The study aimed to explore how regular exercise can impact the composition of fat in the body, rather than focusing solely on calorie burning.
The findings, published in Nature Metabolism, revealed that adults with obesity who exercised at least four times a week for two years had belly fat tissue that was more efficient at storing fat under the skin rather than around organs. This means a healthier distribution of fat in the body and lower risk of inflammation and negative health effects.
Principal investigator Jeffrey Horowitz explained, “If or when people experience weight gain, this excess fat will be stored more ‘healthfully’ under the skin, rather than in visceral fat around organs like the liver or heart.” This is particularly significant given the increasing rates of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the US, which is linked to obesity.
While the study highlights the benefits of exercise on fat storage, the researchers emphasized the need for further investigation into how different types and intensities of exercise impact fat tissues. It’s important to note that increasing the capacity to store fat under the skin does not equate to gaining fat – weight gain still comes down to consuming more calories than you burn.