Effects of Varying Body Composition on Glucose and Insulin Response Following Seven Weeks of Progressive Resistance Training in Young, Healthy Females

Little information exists on the benefit of resistance exercise on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in women. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of body composition on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity response to 7 weeks of resistance training (RT) in young, healthy women. Subjects were randomly assigned to the lower body fat Group 1, higher body fat Group II or the control group. Experimental groups completed 7 weeks RT. Oral glucose tolerance tests with concomitant insulin assays were completed before and after 7 weeks of RT. Body fat %, android fat % and gynoid fat % were determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Glucose measurements did not change after 7 weeks of RT. A modified Composite-Insulin Sensitivity Index (C-ISI) estimated insulin sensitivity. C-ISI improved after 7 weeks of RT in Group I but not Group II or the control group. RT did not affect fat distribution in any group, and reduced BF only in Group II. Higher BF in women attenuates C-ISI improvement in response to RT.