Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of Acute Endurance and Resistance Exercise on Endocrine Hormones Directly Related to Lipolysis and Skeletal Muscle Protein Synthesis in Adult Individuals with Obesity

  • Review Article
  • Exercise Endocrinology in Obesity
  • Published:
Sports Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In subjects with obesity, the implementation of long-term exercise intervention increases lean tissue mass and lowers adipose tissue mass. However, data indicate a blunted lipolytic response, and/or skeletal muscle protein synthesis, when subjects with obesity are exposed to acute endurance or resistance exercise, respectively. Therefore, subjects with obesity seem to display a suboptimal physiological response to acute exercise stimuli. It might be hypothesized that hormonal disturbances contribute, at least in part, to these abnormal physiological reactions in the obese. This review discusses the impact of acute endurance and resistance exercise on endocrine hormones directly related to lipolysis and/or skeletal muscle protein synthesis (insulin, [nor]epinephrine, cortisol, growth hormone, testosterone, triiodothyronine, atrial natriuretic peptide, insulin-like growth factor-1), as well as the impact of long-term endurance and resistance exercise intervention on these hormonal responses to acute endurance and resistance exercise. In the obese, some endocrinological disturbances during acute endurance and resistance exercise have been identified: a blunted blood growth hormone, atrial natriuretic peptide and epinephrine release, and greater cortisol and insulin release. These hormonal disturbances might contribute to a suppressed lipolytic response, and/or suppressed skeletal muscle protein synthesis, as a result of acute endurance or resistance exercise, respectively. In subjects with obesity, the impact of acute endurance and resistance exercise on other endocrine hormones (norepinephrine, testosterone, triiodothyronine, insulin-like growth factor-1) remains elusive. Furthermore, whether long-term endurance and resistance exercise intervention might reverse these hormonal disturbances during acute endurance and resistance exercise in these individuals remains unknown.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Table I

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hansen D, Dendale P, van Loon LJC, et al. The effects of training modalities on clinical benefits of exercise intervention in cardiovascular disease risk patients or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Sports Med 2010 Nov; 40 (11): 921–40

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Horowitz JF. Regulation of lipid mobilization and oxidation during exercise in obesity. Exerc Sports Sci Rev 2001; 29 (1): 42–6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Augert G, Monier S, Le Marchand-Brustel Y. Effect of exercise on protein turnover in muscles of lean and obese mice. Diabetologia 1986 Apr; 29 (4): 248–53

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kolditz CI, Langin D. Adopise tissue lipolysis. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2010 Jul; 13: 377–81

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ahmadian M, Wang Y, Sul HS. Medicine in focus: lipolysis in adipocytes. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2010 May; 42 (5): 555–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Phillips BE, Hill DS, Atherton PJ. Regulation of muscle protein synthesis in humans. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2012; 15 (1): 58–63

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kimball SR, Jefferson LS. Control of translation initiation through integration of signals generated by hormones, nutrients, and exercise. J Biol Chem 2010 Sep; 285 (38): 29027–32

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. West DW, Kujbida GW, Moore DR, et al. Resistance exercise-induced increases in putative anabolic hormones do not enhance muscle protein synthesis or intracellular signalling in young men. J Physiol 2009 Nov; 587: 5239–47

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. McMurray RG, Hackney AC. Interactions of metabolic hormones, adipose tissue and exercise. Sports Med 2005; 25 (5): 393–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Zouhal H, Jacob C, Delamarche P, et al. Catecholamines and the effects of exercise, training and gender. Sports Med 2008; 38 (5): 401–23

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Berlin I, Berlan M, Crespo-Laumonnier B, et al. Alterations in b-adrenergic sensitivity and platelet a-adrenoreceptors in obese women: effect of exercise and caloric restriction. Clin Sci 1990 Jan; 78 (1): 81–7

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ezell DM, Geiselman PJ, Anderson AM, et al. Substrate oxidation and availability during acute exercise in nonobese, obese, and post-obese sedentary females. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1999 Oct; 23 (10): 1047–56

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Giacca A, Groenewoud Y, Tsui E, et al. Glucose production, utilization, and cycling in response to moderate exercise in obese subjects with type 2 diabetes and mild hyperglycemia. Diabetes 1998 Nov; 47 (11): 1763–70

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Gustafson AB, Farrell PA, Kalkhoff RK. Impaired plasma catcholamine response to submaximal treadmill exercise in obese women. Metabolism 1990 Apr; 39 (4): 410–7

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Koppo K, Larrouy D, Marques MA, et al. Lipid mobilization in subcutaneous adipose tissue during exercise in lean and obese humans: roles of insulin and natriuretic peptides. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2010 Aug; 299 (2): E258–65

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Mittendorfer B, Fields DA, Klein S. Excess body fat in men decreases plasma fatty acid availability and oxidation during endurance exercise. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2004 Mar; 286 (3): E354–62

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Salvadori A, Fanari P, Mazza P, et al. Metabolic aspects and sympathetic effects in the obese subject undergoing exercise testing. Minerva Med 1993 Oct; 84 (10): 171–7

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Salvadori A, Fanari P, Giacomotti E, et al. Kinetics of catecholamines and potassium, and heart rate during exercise testing in obese subjects. Eur J Nutr 2003 Aug; 42 (4): 181–7

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Stich V, De Glisezinski I, Crampes F, et al. Activation of a2-adrenergic receptors impairs exercise-induced lipolysis in SCAT of obese subjects. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2000 Aug; 279 (2): R499–504

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Vettor R, Macor C, Rossi E, et al. Impaired counterregulatory hormonal and metabolic response to exhaustive exercise in obese subjects. Acta Diabetol 1997 Aug; 34 (2): 61–6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Weber MA, Neutel JM, Smith DHG. Contrasting clinical properties and exercise responses in obese and lean hypertensive patients. J Am Coll Cardiol 2001 Jan; 37 (1): 169–74

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Yale JF, Leiter LA, Marliss EB. Metabolic responses to intense exercise in lean and obese subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1989 Feb; 68 (2): 438–45

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Goodpaster B, Wolfe RR, Kelley DE. Effect of obesity on substrate utilization during exercise. Obes Res 2002 Jul; 10 (7): 575–84

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Gossain VV, Srivastava L, Rovner DR, et al. Plasma glucagon in simple obesity: effect of exercise. Am J Med Sci 1983 Nov-Dec; 286 (3): 4–10

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Bray GA, Whipp BJ, Koyal SN, et al. Some respiratory and metabolic effects of exercise in moderately obese men. Metabolism 1977 Apr; 26 (4): 403–12

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Kanaley JA, Weatherup-Dentes MM, Jaynes EB, et al. Obesity attenuates the growth hormone response to exercise. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1999 Sep; 84 (9): 3156–61

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Hansen AP. Serum growth hormone response to exercise in non-obese and obese normal subjects. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1973; 31: 175–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Salvadori A, Fanari P, Marzullo P, et al. Dynamics of GH secretion during incremental exercise in obesity, before and after a short period of training at different work-loads. Clin Endocrinol 2010 Oct; 73 (4): 491–6

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Weltman A, Weltman JY, Watson Winfield DDW, et al. Effects of continuous versus intermittent exercise, obesity, and gender on growth hormone secretion. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2008 Dec; 93 (12): 4711–20

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Wong T, Harber V. Lower excess postexercise oxygen consumption and altered growth hormone and cortisol responses to exercise in obese men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006 Feb; 91 (2): 678–86

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Jocken JWE, Blaak EE. Catecholamine-induce lipolysis in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle in obesity. Physiol Behav 2008 May; 94 (2): 219–30

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Ormsbee MJ, Choi MD, Medlin JK, et al. Regulation of fat metabolism during resistance exercise in sedentary lean and obese men. J Appl Physiol 2009 May; 106 (5): 1529–37

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Chatzinikolaou A, Fatouros I, Petridou A, et al. Adipose tissue lipolysis is upregulated in lean and obese men during acute resistance exercise. Diabetes Care 2008 Jul; 31 (7): 1397–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Kraemer WJ, Dunn-Lewis C, Comstock BA, et al. Growth hormone, exercise, and athletic performance: a continued evolution of complexity. Curr Sports Med Rep 2010 Jul- Aug; 9 (4): 242–52

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Dall R, Kanaley J, Hansen TK, et al. Plasma ghrelin levels during exercise in healthy subjects and in growth hormonedeficient patients. Eur J Endocrinol 2002 Jul; 147 (1): 65–70

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Surya S, Horowitz JF, Goldenberg N, et al. The pattern of growth hormone delivery to peripheral tissues determines insulin-like growth factor-1 and lipolytic responses in obese subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2009 Aug; 94 (8): 2828–34

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Nam SY, Marcus C. Growth hormone and adipocyte function in obesity. Horm Res 2000; 53Suppl1: 87–97

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Widdowson WM, Healy ML, Sönksen PH, et al. The physiology of growth hormone and sport. Growth Horm IGF Res 2009 Aug; 19 (4): 308–19

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Thomas GA, Kraemer WJ, Kennett MJ, et al. Immunoreactive and bioactive growth hormone responses to resistance exercise in men who are lean or obese. J Appl Physiol 2011 Aug; 111 (2): 465–72

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Mastorakos G, Pavlatou M, Diamanti-Kandarakis E, et al. Exercise and the stress system. Hormones 2005 Apr-Jun; 4 (2): 73–89

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Xu C, He J, Jiang H, et al. Direct effect of glucocorticoids on lipolysis in adipocytes. Mol Endocrinol 2009 Aug; 23 (8): 1161–70

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Schakman O, Gilson H, Thissen JP. Mechanisms of glucocorticoid- induced myopathy. J Endocrinol 2008 Apr; 197: 1–10

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Kraemer WJ, Ratamess NA. Hormonal responses and adaptations to resistance exercise and training. Sports Med 2005; 35 (4): 339–61

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Gatti R, De Palo EF. An update: salivary hormones and physical exercise. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2011 Apr; 21 (2): 157–69

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Thomas GA, Kraemer WJ, Comstock BA, et al. Effects of resistance exercise and obesity level on ghrelin and cortisol in men. Metabolism. Epub 2011 Dec 5

    Google Scholar 

  46. Seino S, Shibasaki T, Minami K. Dynamics of insulin secretion and the clinical implications for obesity and diabetes. J Clin Invest 2011 Jun; 121 (6): 2118–25

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Bolster DR, Jefferson LS, Kimball SR. Regulation of protein synthesis associated with skeletal muscle hypertrophy by insulin-, amino acid-, and exercise-induced signalling. Proc Nutr Soc 2004 May; 63 (2): 351–6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Frosig C, Richter EA. Improved insulin sensitivity after exercise: focus on insulin signalling. Obesity 2009 Dec; 17 (S3): 15–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Hargreaves M, Spriet L. Exercise Metabolism. Champaign (IL): Human Kinetics, 45–68

  50. Consitt LA, Bell JA, Houmard JA. Intramuscular lipid metabolism, insulin action and obesity. IUBMB Life 2009 Jan; 61 (1): 47–55

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Clerico A, Giannoni A, Vittorini S, et al. Thirty years of the heart as an endocrine organ: physiological role and clinical utility of cardiac natriuretic hormones. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2011 Jul; 301: H12–20

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Lafontan M, Moro C, Berlan M, et al. Control of lipolysis by natriuretic peptides and cyclic GMP. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2008 May-Jun; 19 (4): 130–7

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Moro C, Polak J, Hejnova J, et al. Atrial natriuretic peptide stimulates lipid mobilization during repeated bouts of endurance exercise. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2006 May; 290 (5): E864–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Crewther B, Keogh J, Cronin J, et al. Possible stimuli for strength and power adaptation. Sports Med 2006; 36 (3): 215–38

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Copeland JL, Heggie L. IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 during continuous and interval exercise. Int J Sports Med 2008; 29: 182–7

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Glass DJ. Signaling pathways perturbing muscle mass. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2010 May; 13 (3): 225–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Nedvidkova J, Haluzik M, Bartak V, et al. Changes of noradrenergic activity and lipolysis in the subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue of hypo- and hyperthyroid patients: an in vivo microdialysis study. Ann NY Acad Sci 2004 Jun; 1018: 541–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Ciloglu F, Peker I, Pehlivan A, et al. Exercise intensity and its effects on thyroid hormones. Neuroendocrinol Lett 2005 Dec; 26 (6): 830–4

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Smallridge RC, Whorton NE, Burman KD, et al. Effects of exercise and physical fitness on the pituitary-thyroid axis and on prolactin secretion in male runners. Metabolism 1985 Oct; 34 (10): 949–54

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Hackney A. The male reproductive system and endurance exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1996 Feb; 28 (2): 180–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Vingren JL, Kraemer WJ, Ratamess NA, et al. Testosterone physiology in resistance exercise and training. The upstream regulatory elements. Sports Med 2010 Dec; 40 (12): 1037–53

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Kelijman M, Frohman LA. Enhanced growth hormone (GH) responsiveness to GH-releasing hormone after dietary manipulation in obese and nonobese subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1988 Mar; 66 (3): 489–94

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Williams T, Berelowitz M, Joffe SN, et al. Impaired growth hormone responses to growth-hormone releasing factor in obesity: a pituitary defect reversed with weight reduction. N Engl J Med 1984 Nov; 311 (22): 1403–7

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by a research grant from Hartcentrum Hasselt, Belgium. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Heart Centre Hasselt, Cardiovascular Medicine and Rehabilitation, Jessa Hospital, Stadsomvaart 11, Hasselt, Belgium

    Dominique Hansen PhD & Paul Dendale

  2. Rehabilitation Research Centre, PHL-University College, Hasselt, Belgium

    Dominique Hansen PhD & Paul Dendale

  3. Faculty of Medicine, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium

    Dominique Hansen PhD & Paul Dendale

  4. Department of Human Physiology & Sportsmedicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    Romain Meeusen

  5. Department of Endocrinology, Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium

    Annelies Mullens

Authors
  1. Dominique Hansen PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Romain Meeusen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Annelies Mullens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Paul Dendale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dominique Hansen PhD.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hansen, D., Meeusen, R., Mullens, A. et al. Effect of Acute Endurance and Resistance Exercise on Endocrine Hormones Directly Related to Lipolysis and Skeletal Muscle Protein Synthesis in Adult Individuals with Obesity. Sports Med 42, 415–431 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2165/11599590-000000000-00000

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/11599590-000000000-00000

Keywords

Search

Navigation