Exercise offers many benefits, and one of them is how it changes the way your body stores fat. Especially for people who are overweight, physical activity brings several additional advantages.
Being overweight can lead to insulin resistance, meaning the body has more difficulty handling high sugar intake. Over time, this can result in diabetes. Not everyone develops insulin resistance, though. Whether someone does seems to depend partly on how their body processes fat. Some people break down dietary fat more slowly, which causes fatty acids to build up in tissues — a process that may trigger insulin resistance.
Others with a slower fat breakdown may actually store these fatty acids in a healthier, more efficient way, reducing their risk of insulin resistance. Both types of people can be overweight, but the way fat is stored can make a big difference in health outcomes.
This fat storage process can be influenced by exercise. Regular, long-term physical activity improves blood circulation in fat tissue by increasing the number of blood vessels. This enhanced blood flow can help improve fat storage, which in turn reduces the risk of insulin resistance.
So: regular physical activity protects you from the harmful effects of being overweight — and helps you lose weight. Two birds with one stone!