Scientists from the University of Michigan, people with obesity who exercise for a long time have healthier fat tissue in their abdomen. In addition, such people have a reduced risk of excess fat deposition around internal organs. The results of the study were published in the journal Nature.
The research team grew fat tissue in the lab from cells taken from exercisers and sedentary volunteers. They also analyzed fat samples from 16 people who exercised at least four times a week for at least two years and 16 participants who did not exercise regularly.
The analysis showed that the fat tissue of people who exercised had unique structural and biological characteristics. In particular, it was permeated with a large number of blood vessels, contained more mitochondria and useful proteins. Such fat tissue also had less collagen, which in some cases can negatively affect metabolism, and fewer cells that cause inflammation.
In addition, the subcutaneous fat tissue of physically active people also had better storage properties. This is important for protection against visceral obesity – the accumulation of fat tissue around the organs.
