About this Research Topic
The abdominal fat-reducing effect of exercise training is well-supported by scientific studies according to a current meta-analysis of data collected from image-based tools (DEXA or MRI). The underlying mechanism explaining this favorable outcome remains controversial. Increased fatty acid oxidation (fat burning) is the most popular concept to explain the abdominal fat reducing outcome of exercise training. However, the 24-h fatty acid oxidation rate, as a gold standard of measuring fat burning, is not elevated in men performing low-intensity exercise, high-intensity exercise, or resistance exercise. Therefore, an alternative hypothesis is required to explain the abdominal fat loss outcomes observed in previous exercise training studies. Our alternative hypothesis is that the redistribution of hydrocarbon sources can occur during and after exercise training leading to a decrease in abdominal fat.
We would like to encourage scientists to offer additional commentary on this hypothesis as well as original research, which may strengthen this hypothesis. In addition, we welcome manuscripts that help explain the observation that high intensity intermittent exercise and hypoxic training, as anaerobic interventions, are more effective in decreasing abdominal fat within a short period of time than a low-to-moderate intensity exercise (more aerobic with greater energy contribution from fatty acid oxidation).
Some potential themes of interest for this Research Topic:
- Effect of exercise on balance of fat cell death and regeneration in adipose tissues
- Effect of exercise on competition and recruitment of bone marrow stem cells between muscle and fat tissues
- Fuel/hydrocarbon redistribution between fat and muscle tissues during and after exercise
- The role of lipoprotein lipase on redistribution of hydrocarbons from fatty acid sources between fat and muscle tissues following exercise training
- Alternative mechanisms explaining the fat-reducing effect of exercise training
We would like to encourage scientists to offer additional commentary on this hypothesis as well as original research, which may strengthen this hypothesis. In addition, we welcome manuscripts that help explain the observation that high intensity intermittent exercise and hypoxic training, as anaerobic interventions, are more effective in decreasing abdominal fat within a short period of time than a low-to-moderate intensity exercise (more aerobic with greater energy contribution from fatty acid oxidation).
Some potential themes of interest for this Research Topic:
- Effect of exercise on balance of fat cell death and regeneration in adipose tissues
- Effect of exercise on competition and recruitment of bone marrow stem cells between muscle and fat tissues
- Fuel/hydrocarbon redistribution between fat and muscle tissues during and after exercise
- The role of lipoprotein lipase on redistribution of hydrocarbons from fatty acid sources between fat and muscle tissues following exercise training
- Alternative mechanisms explaining the fat-reducing effect of exercise training
Keywords: Obesity, fat mass, DEXA, MRI, high intensity exercise
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
