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Will help overweight people exercise correctly

Many people who are overweight and obese aim to exercise and get into better shape. However, studies suggest that Henning (46) and others who are carrying too many extra kilos may benefit less from strength training. Why is this the case?

Sports researchers at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN University) are now embarking on a large three-year project on obesity and the effects of strength training.

Henning is one of 151 participants in the study.

It is great that they need a fat guy like me!

Henning Evensen

The issue is:

Researchers are becoming increasingly interested in that people respond differently to exercise and dietary changes. Perhaps the advice we have all heard about exercise and diet needs to be adjusted?

For people with obesity, strength training can help prevent lifestyle diseases, but it appears that they have a longer way to go.

They build less muscle than others after strength training, and their muscles do not function as well as those of normal-weight people

Part of the reason may be found here:

Fat around the muscle and inside the muscle can inhibit the muscle's ability to grow

In this animation, the yellow represents subcutaneous fat, the red represents fat and connective tissue within the muscle fascia and the green represents muscles.

This applies to many people in Norway today.

The proportion of people with obesity has skyrocketed over the last three decades

People with obesity are those with a BMI of more than 30. Those with a BMI between 25 and 30 are classified as 'overweight', while those between 18.5 and 24.9 are 'normal weight'.

I realise that I need to make changes in my life. My dream is to shed a few kilos and move some of the belly up to my chest.

Henning Evensen

Håvard Hamarsland and his colleagues at the Section for Health and Exercise Physiology hope that their project 'Alfa og omega' can provide more answers on how people with obesity can achieve the best possible results from strength training.

We know little about the underlying mechanisms connecting obesity and impaired muscle function. We also know little about the effect of strength training in people with obesity.

Håvard Hamarsland, postdoctoral fellow and project leader, INN University.

I believe no one in the world has researched this to the extent that we are doing now.

Henning is lifting weights with a woman spotting him.

Henning is now lifting weights several times a week, following a carefully planned training programme.

Participants with normal weight and participants with obesity are following the same programme.

Henning is using an exercise machine. He is giving a lot of effort.

They perform many repetitions with light weights with one leg, and few repetitions with heavy weights with the other leg.

At the same time, some participants receive omega-3 supplements, while others receive a placebo.

The researchers measure the effects of the training among the different groups, including through micro-biopsy samples taken from the thigh muscle.

Close-up of blue medical gloves holding a sample needle.

Once the results are fully analysed, the researchers hope to provide clear advice to individuals with obesity.

We hope this will help many people get more effect from strength training. It is vital knowledge in the fight against a significant and growing health issue – lifestyle diseases resulting from obesity.

Håvard Hamarsland, postdoctoral fellow and project leader, INN University.