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Combined Aerobic and Resistance Training Improves Metabolic Health and Is Associated with Arginine and Histidine Metabolic Changes During the Transition from Metabolically Unhealthy to Metabolically Healthy Obesity in Young Adults

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Exercise training is known to improve metabolic health in individuals with obesity; however, its role in facilitating transitions between metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) and metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), as well as the associated metabolic adaptations, remains incompletely understood. METHODS: max were assessed before and after the intervention. Targeted metabolomics of 30 amino acid-related metabolites was performed in the MHO-R (remained MHO) and MUO-C (conversion from MUO to MHO) groups to explore exercise-associated metabolic adaptations following intervention. RESULTS: Exercise training improved cardiometabolic risk profiles, including reductions in adiposity and improvements in insulin resistance-related markers. A proportion of participants transitioned from metabolically unhealthy to metabolically healthy obesity following the intervention. No significant between-group differences in amino acid metabolite changes were observed between MHO-R and MUO-C groups. Exploratory metabolomic analyses identified exercise-responsive alterations in amino acid-related metabolites, particularly involving arginine biosynthesis and histidine metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: Combined aerobic and resistance training is associated with improvements in metabolic health and phenotype transition in young adults with obesity. Observed alterations in arginine and histidine metabolism may reflect metabolic adaptations to exercise rather than transition-specific or causal mechanisms underlying phenotype conversion.

Source: Nutrients

DOI: 10.3390/nu18121956

Authors: Xueyin Fei, Min Wu, Yanchun Li, Mengru Zhang, Xiangang Yang

Institutions: Beijing Sport University, China Agricultural University

Language: English

Topic: Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins

Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,499