The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of training intensity on abdominal fatness reduction and improvements of metabolic risk factors in Korean women (n = 45, aged 45.4 +/- 7.3 yrs). Subjects were randomly assigned to control (CON, n = 15) or low-intensity exercise (LIEX, n = 15) or high-intensity exercise (HIEX, n = 15). The LIEX and HIEX groups participated in a 12-wk exercise intervention at intensities of 40 to 50% and 70 to 75% of VO2max, respectively. Outcome assessments performed at baseline and at the end of 12-wk period included abdominal adipose tissues, VO2max, blood lipids, fasting glucose and insulin, and LPL- and HSL-mRNAs in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Unlike the CON group, women in the exercise groups had significant improvements in VO2max (+11%, p < 0.001), SAT (-12%, p = 0.026), TG (-23%, p = 0.002), HDLC (+7.2%, p = 0.013), insulin (-23%, p = 0.037), and HOMA-IR (-25%, p = 0.015) relative to baseline values. Changes in baseline CRF were in a dose-dependent manner based in intensity (-1.2 +/- 1.7, 2.1 +/- 2.8, and 4.7 +/- 3.2ml/kg/min for CON, LIEX, and HIEX, respectively, p < 0.001). We found no evidence that LIEX- and HIEX differ in their effects on abdominal adiposity, risk factors, and LPL- and HSL-mRNA expressions in SAT. In conclusion, the current findings suggest that low- and high-intensity exercise are equally effective in reducing abdominal adiposity and in improving risk factors.

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