PBRC Demonstrates Benefits of Aerobics and Resistance Training Combination to Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes - 10.11.2010

BATON ROUGE–  Clinical research findings from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center (PBRC) demonstrate that a combination of aerobic training and weightlifting have greater benefits to blood sugar levels, fitness and weight control than aerobic exercise alone or resistance training alone, according to lead researcher Dr. Timothy Church, M.D., Ph.D. 

The study, called Health Benefits of Aerobic & Resistance Training in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Study (HART-D), was conducted over a four year period at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. 

The findings show that a combination of 140 minutes a week of aerobics and strength training positively impacts individuals with type 2 diabetes. According Dr. Church, “The study shows that the combination approach of aerobics and strength training has greater cumulative benefit for individuals with diabetes than aerobics or strength training alone: improved blood sugar control, overall fitness, and fat mass reduction.”

PBRC researchers examined 262 women and men, aged 30 to 75 years, dividing them into a self-directed control group, a supervised aerobic training only group, a supervised resistance training group or a combination group of aerobic and resistance training.  All exercise groups had a 9-month training period.  Each group had HbA1c blood tests to determine long-term changes in blood sugar control.

The preliminary results of the study were released by Dr. Church on October 10 at the 28th Annual Obesity 2010 conference in its “Late Breaking” research presentation meetings in San Diego, California.

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The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a campus of the Louisiana State University System and conducts basic, clinical and population research. The research enterprise at the Center includes 85 faculty and more than 30 post-doctoral fellows who comprise a network of 53 laboratories supported by lab technicians, nurses, dieticians, and support personnel, and 19 highly specialized core service facilities.  The Center's nearly 600 employees occupy several buildings on the 234-acre campus.

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Angela deGravelles
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