PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Exercise counters the physiological effects of Christmas excess

2013-12-15
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Lucy Holmes
LHolmes@physoc.org
44-020-726-95727
Wiley
Exercise counters the physiological effects of Christmas excess Daily exercise lessens many of the harmful physiological effects of short-term overeating and inactivity, shows a new study [published 15 December] in The Journal of Physiology, which is well timed with the Christmas holiday approaching.

Earlier studies have found that even a few days of energy surplus – where you consume more calories than you burn – brings detrimental health impacts. This new study shows that a daily bout of exercise generates vast physiological benefits even when you consume thousands of calories more than you are burning. Exercise clearly does a lot more than simply reduce the energy surplus.

James Betts, one of the researchers from The University of Bath, says: "This new research shows that the picture is more sophisticated than 'energy' alone: exercise has positive effects even when we are actively storing energy and gaining weight."

After just one week of overeating, people being monitored showed poor blood sugar control and their fat cells were expressing genes that lead to unhealthy metabolic changes and disrupted nutritional balance. However, these negative effects were markedly less in those who were exercising.

Jean-Philippe Walhin, a researcher on the study, says: "Our research demonstrates that a short period of overconsumption and reduced physical activity leads to very profound negative changes in a variety of physiological systems – but that a daily bout of exercise stops most of these negative changes from taking place."

In the study, 26 healthy young men were asked to be generally inactive in their daily activities. Half of the group then exercised daily on a treadmill for 45 minutes. Everyone was asked to overeat: the non-exercising group increased their caloric intake by 50 per cent, whilst the exercising group increased by 75 per cent, so everyone's net daily energy surplus was the same.

Dr Dylan Thompson, senior author on the paper, says: "A critical feature of our experiment is that we matched the energy surplus between groups – so the exercise group consumed even more energy and were still better off at the end of the week."

After one week, the groups had blood insulin measurements and biopsies of fat tissue taken, with striking results. The non-exercising group showed a significant and unhealthy decline in their blood sugar control, and their fat cells were overexpressing genes linked to unhealthy metabolic changes and were under-expressing genes involved in well-functioning metabolism. However, the exercising group had stable blood sugar levels and their fat cells showed less 'undesirable' genetic expression.

Jean-Philippe Walhin, a researcher on the study, says, "Short-term overfeeding and reduced physical activity had a dramatic impact on the overall metabolic health of the participants and on various key genes within fat tissue – and exercise prevented these negative changes even though energy was still being stored."

Dr Dylan Thompson says: "If you are facing a period of overconsumption and inactivity, which is probably quite common around Christmas time, then our study shows that a daily bout of exercise will prevent many of the negative changes from taking place even though you are gaining weight."

The effects are obvious, but the underlying causes will need further study to be determined. The findings are likely to apply to other groups, like older adults and women, and perhaps to lesser amounts of training.

### END


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Hong Kong study shows lower survival rates after second hip fractures

2013-12-15
Hong Kong study shows lower survival rates after second hip fractures Total 75 percent of second hip fractures occurred within 4 years after initial hip fracture; further studies needed to help explain excessive mortality of second ...

World e-waste map reveals national volumes, international flows

2013-12-15
PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 15-Dec-2013 [ | E-mail ] var addthis_pub="eurekalert"; var addthis_options = "favorites, delicious, digg, facebook, twitter, google, newsvine, reddit, slashdot, stumbleupon, buzz, more" Share Contact: Terry Collins tc@tca.tc 416-878-8712 United Nations University Ruediger Kuehr kuehr@unu.edu 49-228-815-0213/-0271 Head UNU-ISP SCYCLE & Executive Secretary StEP Shereen Kandil kandil.shereen@epa.gov 202-564-6433 US Environmental Protection Agency World e-waste map reveals national volumes, international flows Annual ...

Regular exercise in middle age protects against muscle weakness later in life

2013-12-14
Regular exercise in middle age protects against muscle weakness later in life Japanese study shows exercise in middle age is a protective factor against sarcopenia and effective in maintaining muscle strength and physical performance Hong ...

Tighten up value for money appraisals of new drugs in England, urges DTB

2013-12-14
Tighten up value for money appraisals of new drugs in England, urges DTB Reject drugs where pharma fails to provide supporting evidence -- which it does in up to 40 percent of cases, it says The body that appraises the clinical and cost effectiveness of new ...

Significant minority think doctors should help 'tired of living' elderly to die if that's their wish

2013-12-14
Significant minority think doctors should help 'tired of living' elderly to die if that's their wish 1 in 5 backs this choice for elderly who are not seriously ill, survey shows One in five people believes that doctors should be allowed to help the elderly who ...

CPAP therapy improves golf performance in men with sleep apnea

2013-12-14
CPAP therapy improves golf performance in men with sleep apnea Among the more skilled golfers, the average handicap index dropped by 31.5 percent DARIEN, IL – A new study suggests that treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with continuous positive airway ...

Plaque composition, immune activation explain cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected women

2013-12-14
Plaque composition, immune activation explain cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected women A Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team has discovered a possible mechanism behind the elevated risk of cardiovascular disease in women infected with ...

UCSF research finds new link between obesity, early decline in kidney function

2013-12-14
UCSF research finds new link between obesity, early decline in kidney function Body mass index 'in and of itself' increases risk of developing chronic kidney disease, study shows A new UCSF-led study of nearly 3,000 individuals links obesity to ...

New public attitudes about access to medical information, bio tissue for research

2013-12-14
New public attitudes about access to medical information, bio tissue for research (SALT LAKE CITY)—In this age of surveillance cameras, computer algorithms for tracking website visits, and GPS-imbedded cell phones, many people feel their right to ...

New tech lets cholesterol-tracking smartphone users take lifesaving selfies

2013-12-14
New tech lets cholesterol-tracking smartphone users take lifesaving selfies ITHACA, N.Y. – With a new smartphone device, you can now take an accurate iPhone camera selfie that could save your life – it reads your cholesterol level in about a minute. Forget those ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Revolutionizing tropical disease treatment: The future of conjugating nanomaterials with drugs

Improving quality of life and end-of-life care: Standardizing goals of care notes in EHRs

Taking vitamin E during pregnancy may decrease peanut allergy in children

AI in retail: how to spark creativity and improve job satisfaction

1 in 5 older adults get infections after heart surgery, and women have a 60% higher risk

New funding to support food security, economic resiliency

All generic drugs are not equal, study finds

Enhancing shareholder accountability: Lessons from Japan’s corporate governance reforms

A new treatment for post-amputation pain?

Groundbreaking study reveals how topology drives complexity in brain, climate, and AI

Lifestyle and environmental factors affect health and ageing more than our genes

New mRNA produces 200 times more protein: Hope for treatment of cancer and protein disorders

Magnetic semiconductor preserves 2D quantum properties in 3D material

Magnetic switch traps quantum information carriers in one dimension

Using light to activate treatments in the right place

Democracy in crisis: Trust in democratic institutions declining around the world

Finalists announced for the 2025 UK Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists

Bio-hybrid drone uses silkworm moth antennae to navigate using smell

Do seizures in newborns increase children’s risk of developing epilepsy?

Does the brain produce estrogen to control appetite?

Would the prohibition of menthol cigarettes cause more harm than good?

What are the benefits and harms of aggressive blood pressure lowering in older adults with different characteristics?

Why is Japanese knotweed so highly invasive?

How will China’s reformed standards strategy affect corporate labor employment?

Make America Healthy Again agenda at risk with reduction in force across federal health agencies

Revolutionizing energy-efficient smart windows: A flexible dual-band electrochromic device with energy storage

Using a data-driven approach to synthesize single-atom catalysts that can purify water

Repeated invasions shape NZ’s bird life

Wild fish can recognize individual divers

New therapy reduces reoffending in male offenders with antisocial personality disorder

[Press-News.org] Exercise counters the physiological effects of Christmas excess