Strength training is more effective than aerobic exercise for improving glycaemic control and body composition in people with normal‑weight type 2 diabetes: a randomised controlled trial – published online 26/07/2023
Yukari Kobayashi, Jin Long, Shozen Dan, Neil M. Johannsen, Ruth Talamoa, Sonia Raghuram, Sukyung Chung, Kyla Kent, Marina Basina, Cynthia Lamendola, Francois Haddad, Mary B. Leonard, Timothy S. Church, Latha Palaniappan
Previous studies in people with overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes have shown that a combination of aerobic and resistance training is superior to either type of exercise alone for lowering HbA1c levels. In this issue, Kobayashi et al (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-023-05958-9) describe the STRONG-D study, which aimed to determine the impact of different exercise regimens on glycaemic control in people with ‘normal-weight type 2 diabetes’ (BMI <25 kg/m²). The study compared strength training alone, aerobic training alone, and combined strength and aerobic training. In contrast to previous trials in individuals with overweight/obesity, the authors show that strength training alone was more effective at reducing HbA1c levels than aerobic training alone, with combination training showing intermediate effects. The authors highlight that increased lean mass relative to fat mass, observed only in the strength training group, independently predicted lower HbA1c levels. The authors emphasise the significance of strength training for managing type 2 diabetes in normal-weight individuals and highlight the importance of considering body composition in exercise recommendations for this population. They conclude that these findings could contribute to personalised care for different diabetes phenotypes.
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