Effects of amount, intensity, and mode of exercise training on the metabolic syndrome: A narrative review

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this narrative review is to: 1) summarize findings from the three Studies of a Targeted Risk Reduction Intervention through Defined Exercise (STRRIDE) randomized trials regarding the differential effects of exercise amount, intensity, and mode on metabolic syndrome (MetS); and 2) compare the STRRIDE findings with other published randomized exercise trials related to changes in MetS.

Methods

A literature review was performed to investigate the effects of exercise on composite measures of MetS. PubMed was searched between October 2023 and December 2023. To be included in this review, studies must have employed a randomized study design, whereby exercise amount, intensity, or mode was varied.

Results

Findings from the STRRIDE trials and other randomized exercise trials suggest: 1) there is a relationship between exercise energy expenditure (ExEE) and improvements in composite measures of MetS; 2) there may be an asymptotic effect for ExEE beyond which further improvements in MetS are negligible or counterproductive; 3) improvements in composite measures of MetS are closely linked to insulin sensitivity; and 4) without controlling for total ExEE, combined aerobic and resistance training interventions offer the most robust improvements for composite MetS outcomes compared to either mode alone.

Conclusion

Additional, large-scale, randomized exercise trials should be designed to investigate the potential asymptotic effect and associated threshold for ExEE, the interaction between exercise intensity and baseline insulin sensitivity, and the independent effects of exercise mode on MetS.