Search

Studies indicate that rapid weight gain at critical development stages, such as the lactation period, is associated with the development of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes in the long term. In addition to metabolic changes during adulthood, overweight/obesity may influence reproductive function. Human and animal studies suggest that lifestyle changes through exercise and/or controlled diet result in improved semen quality in obese individuals. However, the relationship between exercise volume/intensity and reproductive capacity effects remains inconclusive. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of moderate intensity endurance training and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the reproductive parameters of lactating overfed male Wistar rats. Postnatal overfeeding was induced by applying the litter size reduction method. Forty males Wistar rats were used, divided into four groups: one with control litters (CLs) (10 animals/litter-sedentary) and three with small litters (SLs) (4 animals/litter), divided into sedentary, moderate endurance training, and HIIT. Morphologic, metabolic, and reproductive variables were analyzed. SL sedentary group showed increased body weight, adiposity, and decreased relative weight of the seminal vesicle, prostate, and epididymis as well as changes in the insulin tolerance and oral glucose tolerance tests glycemic tests compared to CL sedentary group. Endurance and HIIT protocols were efficient in improving the glycemic metabolism, central fat accumulation of trained groups and did not affect reproductive parameters. Endurance and HIIT protocols proved to be effective in reversing these metabolic changes without impairing the evaluated reproductive parameters.

Abstract Background Obesity is associated with several comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and may have its origin in early life stages, such as in the lactation period, through metabolic programming. Physical activity aids in decreasing the chances of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, even with small weight losses and, in children, can play an essential role in preventing weight gain and other health problems. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of moderate intensity endurance training and high intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols on obesity-related parameters and cardiorespiratory capacity in overfed Wistar rats throughout the breastfeeding period. Methods Two days after birth, forty male and female Wistar rats were clustered into two groups: Control Litter Group (CL; ten animals/litter) and Reduced Litter Group (RL; four animals/litter). At weaning, RL animals were distributed randomly into three experimental groups: sedentary, moderate intensity endurance training and HIIT, while CL animals were clustered into a sedentary group. Results RL male and female body weight, before weaning, was significantly higher when compared with CL animals. This difference was maintained between CLSed and RLSed groups after weaning during all assessed periods. Adiposity was significantly higher in RLSed males when compared to CLSed males, and alterations in glycaemic metabolism were also observed. Endurance and HIIT protocols were efficient in improving maximal cardiorespiratory capacity, as well as concerning the glycemic metabolism and central fat accumulation of males and females submitted to childhood overfeeding by the litter reduction method. Conclusions Both moderate endurance training and HIIT protocols included in early life were efficient in reverting or preventing certain metabolic alterations as a consequence of overfeeding during breastfeeding in male and female Wistar rats.