Weightlifting May Be More Effective Than Running in Preventing Type 2 Diabetes, Study Finds
Strength training could offer superior protection against type 2 diabetes and unhealthy weight gain compared to endurance exercise like running, according to new research published today.
Scientists at Virginia Tech conducted a study using mice fed a high-fat diet and found that while both running and weightlifting improved blood sugar control, resistance training was more effective at reducing body fat, improving glucose tolerance, and lowering insulin resistance – all key factors in preventing and managing type 2 diabetes. The findings, published online Oct. 30 in the Journal of Sport and Health Science, could have significant implications for public health recommendations.
Researchers developed a unique “weightlifting” model for mice, attaching a small shoulder collar that required them to lift a weighted lid to access their food, simulating a squat-like motion. Another group had access to a running wheel, while a control group remained inactive. After eight weeks, the weight-training mice demonstrated greater reductions in belly and under-the-skin fat, along with improved insulin signaling in muscle. “The take-home message is that you should do both endurance and resistance exercise, if possible, to get the most health benefit,” said senior study author Zhen Yan, director of the Center for Exercise Medicine Research at Virginia Tech in Roanoke, Virginia.
More than 38 million Americans currently live with diabetes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and obesity is a major contributing risk factor. Yan emphasized that even with advancements in diabetes medications like GLP-1s, exercise remains crucial for overall health. “Weight training has equal, if not better, anti-diabetes benefits,” Yan explained.
Researchers noted that animal studies don’t always translate directly to humans, but plan to continue investigating these findings to determine their applicability to human populations.
