Unicamp study finds strength training shrinks fat cells in seven days

Researchers at the University of Campinas (Unicamp) have discovered that just seven days of resistance training can trigger fat-burning mechanisms in obese mice, even before any measurable weight loss occurs. The study, published in the journal Life Sciences, observed that short-term strength training activated lipid breakdown mechanisms, reduced the size of fat cells, and decreased adiposity around the intestines.

Led by professor and physician Leandro Moura, the research was conducted through the Exercise Cell Biology Lab (Ecebil). The study utilized male mice on high-fat diets to simulate obesity, comparing sedentary subjects with those undergoing strength training. This work is part of a long-term research initiative, supported by FAPESP, that has investigated the molecular effects of physical activity on metabolic health, including obesity and diabetes, for nearly two decades.