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Preferential deposition of visceral adipose tissue occurs due to physical inactivity

International Journal of Obesity volume 38, pages 1478–1480 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

We hypothesised that strict inactivity (bed rest) would lead to regional differences in fat deposition. Twenty-four male subjects underwent 60d bed rest and remained inactive (n=9), performed resistance exercise plus whole-body vibration (RVE; n=7) or resistance exercise only (RE; n=8). Fat mass was assessed via dual X-ray absorptiometry. In the inactive subjects, fat deposition differed between body regions (P=0.0005) with android region visceral adipose tissue increasing the most (+29% at the end of bed rest), followed by remainder of the trunk (from chin to the iliac crest; +10%) and the arms and legs (both +7%). Insulin sensitivity reduced in the inactive subjects at the end of bed rest (P=0.036). RE did not have a significant impact on regional fat mass changes (P⩾0.055). In RVE, increases in visceral adipose tissue (−14%; P=0.028 vs inactive subjects) and in the arms (arms −8%, P=0.011 vs inactive) were not seen. We conclude that inactivity leads to a preferential increase in visceral adipose tissue.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the subjects who participated in the study, the staff of the Pflegedirektion, the nurses who cared for the subjects and the many colleagues involved in the implementation of the bed rest study. The 2nd Berlin BedRest Study was supported by grant 14431/02/NL/SH2 from the European Space Agency and grant 50WB0720 from the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The 2nd Berlin BedRest Study was also sponsored by Novotec Medical, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Siemens, Osteomedical Group, Wyeth Pharma, Servier Deutschland, P&G, Kubivent, Seca, Astra-Zeneka and General Electric. Daniel L. Belavý was supported by a post-doctoral fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Belavý: Secured funding. Conception and design of the experiments. Statistical analysis and interpretation of the data. Drafting the article. Möhlig: Conception and design of the experiments. Analysis of the data. Revision of article. Pfeiffer: Conception and design of the experiments. Analysis of the data. Armbrecht: Conception and design of the experiments. Analysis of the data. Interpretation of the data. Revision of article. Felsenberg: Secured funding. Conception and design of the experiments. Interpretation of the data. Revision of article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Muscle and Bone Research, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    D L Belavý, D Felsenberg & G Armbrecht

  2. Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    M Möhlig

  3. German Institute of Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Nuthetal, Germany

    A F H Pfeiffer

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  1. D L Belavý
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  2. M Möhlig
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  3. A F H Pfeiffer
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  4. D Felsenberg
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Correspondence to D L Belavý.

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Competing interests

DF acts as a consultant to Novotec Medical for the exploitation of this study’s results. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Belavý, D., Möhlig, M., Pfeiffer, A. et al. Preferential deposition of visceral adipose tissue occurs due to physical inactivity. Int J Obes 38, 1478–1480 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2014.26

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