New Study Shows Regular Exercise Improves Belly Fat Health
A new study reveals that regular exercise, especially over a sustained period, not only helps with weight loss but also improves the composition of belly fat, making it healthier. Even if you don’t shed many pounds, exercising regularly transforms your fat tissue in beneficial ways, helping your body store fat more healthily. The study, published in Nature Metabolism, compared
16 people who reported exercising at least four times a week for at least two years
16 people who had never exercised regularly
The exercisers had better fat tissue, characterized by more blood vessels, mitochondria, and fewer inflammatory cells. Their fat was stored more efficiently under the skin, reducing the risk of harmful visceral fat accumulating around organs.
Researcher Jeffrey Horowitz explains that if or when weight gain occurs, regular exercisers are more likely to store fat beneath the skin (subcutaneous fat) in a healthier way, rather than in and around organs, like the liver or heart. This reduces the harmful accumulation of visceral fat, which can lead to metabolic issues. By improving the way fat is stored, exercise provides long-term health benefits, even during periods of weight gain.
Over time, as people naturally gain weight, regular exercisers are more likely to store excess fat in this healthier manner, decreasing their chances of developing metabolic issues.
The findings challenge the idea that exercise is solely about losing weight. Instead, it shows that even without dramatic changes on the scale, regular physical activity provides lasting health benefits. By improving how fat is stored, exercise can protect against the negative effects of fat accumulation and help reduce inflammation and metabolic disorders. This encourages everyone to focus on consistent physical activity, regardless of immediate weight loss goals, to improve long-term health outcomes.
