How exercise affects fat tissue and metabolism
Official title: The role of adipose tissue in adaptive responses to exercise
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11082301 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how exercise affects fat tissue and overall health in older adults who are dealing with obesity and prediabetes, and it involves a 3-month exercise program to see how their bodies change before and after.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $151,902 |
| NIH project number | 5K01DK134765-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11082301 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who are obese or have prediabetes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not older adults or do not have obesity or prediabetes may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of exercise on adipose tissue, which is crucial for metabolic health. It aims to understand how exercise training alters the cellular makeup and signaling of fat tissue, particularly in older adults with obesity and prediabetes. Participants will engage in a 3-month exercise program, with assessments of their metabolic health and fat tissue characteristics before and after the intervention. Additionally, the study will explore how acute exercise influences immune responses and the release of signaling molecules from fat tissue.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved exercise recommendations and interventions for enhancing metabolic health in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that exercise positively influences adipose tissue function, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kunz, Hawley E — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Kunz, Hawley E
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.