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Exercise as medicine for metabolic dysfunction and obesity: eschewing generalities by defining specifics

Edited by Fred DiMenna

A new cross-journal article collection in BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, BMC Endocrine Disorders, BMC Obesity, and Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome.


New Content ItemAs a rally cry, “exercise is medicine” has united the exercise community. However, for exercise to be universally embraced as a viable alternative to pharmaceutical intervention, more than a captivating catchphrase is required. For example, it is well established that exercise can play an important role in combating the growing prevalence of obesity and associated metabolic disorders related to the oft-associated loss of insulin sensitivity. However, heretofore, the exercise programming variables that define the program that optimizes this positive influence have not been clarified. Pharmaceuticals are prescribed with research-based precision regarding medication type, dosage and route, time and frequency of administration. For exercise to represent an alternative to conventional medicine for the prevention/treatment of obesity and the associated metabolic disorders, similar evidence-based precision is required. The aim of this thematic series is to provide a forum within which research can be presented that establishes this foundation.

  1. Diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia due to impaired insulin secretion and aberrant glucagon secretion resulting from changes in pancreatic islet cell function and/or mass. The aim of the present study w...

    Authors: Jun-Koo Yi, Zae-Young Ryoo, Jae-Jung Ha, Dong-Yep Oh, Myoung-Ok Kim and Sung-Hyun Kim
    Citation: Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome 2019 11:15
    Content type: Research Published on:

  2. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in youth is escalating rapidly. We aimed to evaluate the effects of liraglutide on beta-cell function, metabolic productions of oxidative stress, low grade inflammation compar...

    Authors: Wen-qiang Zhang, Yuan Tian, Xiao-min Chen, Li-fen Wang, Chan-chan Chen and Chuan-mei Qiu
    Citation: Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome 2018 10:91
    Content type: Research Published on:

  3. Metabolic syndrome is defined as a cluster of at least three out of five clinical risk factors: abdominal (visceral) obesity, hypertension, elevated serum triglycerides, low serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL...

    Authors: Carole A. Paley and Mark I. Johnson
    Citation: BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation 2018 10:7
    Content type: Review Published on:

  4. Vascular endothelial dysfunction induced by hyperglycemia and elevated insulin resistance is a potent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and likely contributes to multiple chronic disease complications ass...

    Authors: Jung-Hoon Lee, Ruda Lee, Moon-Hyon Hwang, Marc T. Hamilton and Yoonjung Park
    Citation: Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome 2018 10:15
    Content type: Review Published on:

  5. Exercise stimulates the production of fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5), which is cleaved to release a protein called irisin. This protein induces browning of white adipose tissue result...

    Authors: Carolina Archundia-Herrera, Maciste Macias-Cervantes, Bernardo Ruiz-Muñoz, Katya Vargas-Ortiz, Carlos Kornhauser and Victoriano Perez-Vazquez
    Citation: Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome 2017 9:101
    Content type: Research Published on:

  6. To explore the impact of glycaemic control (HbA1c) on functional capacity during cardio-pulmonary exercise testing in people with type 1 diabetes.

    Authors: Othmar Moser, Max L. Eckstein, Olivia McCarthy, Rachel Deere, Stephen C. Bain, Hanne L. Haahr, Eric Zijlstra and Richard M. Bracken
    Citation: Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome 2017 9:93
    Content type: Short report Published on:

  7. Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is a member of the collectin family and is an important component of the pulmonary innate host defense. To find the relationship between exercise training and SP-D in diabetes, we e...

    Authors: Sajjad Rezaei, Mahdieh Molanouri Shamsi, Mehdi Mahdavi, Azadeh Jamali, Jonato Prestes, Ramires Alsamir Tibana, James Wilfred Navalta and Fabrício Azevedo Voltarelli
    Citation: Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome 2017 9:74
    Content type: Research Published on:

  8. We investigated the influence of aerobic capacity on the improvement in glycemic control achieved by long-term aerobic exercise in type 2 diabetes.

    Authors: Hideki Nojima, Masayasu Yoneda, Hiroshi Watanabe, Kiminori Yamane, Yoshihiro Kitahara, Kiyokazu Sekikawa, Hideya Yamamoto, Akihito Yokoyama, Noboru Hattori and Nobuoki Kohno
    Citation: Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome 2017 9:63
    Content type: Research Published on:

  9. Both sprint interval training (SIT) and high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) have been described as time-efficient strategies for inducing favourable metabolic and cardiorespiratory adaptations in healt...

    Authors: Benjamin M. Kelly, Soteris Xenophontos, James A. King and Myra A. Nimmo
    Citation: BMC Obesity 2017 4:17
    Content type: Research article Published on: