Developing Predictors of the Health Benefits of Exercise for Individuals

Aerobic exercise capacity, in prospective follow-up analyses, is a stronger a predictor of morbidity and mortality than other recognised risk factors such as hypertension. Furthermore, the most powerful lifestyle factor that on average reduces the risk for development of Type II diabetes is arguably increased physical activity. Investigators have clearly demonstrated that following many weeks of supervised aerobic exercise training ~20% of sedentary volunteers show almost no changes in gold standard measurements of fitness and many more demonstrate a poor response. Furthermore at least 25% of people demonstrate no improvement in insulin sensitivity in response to aerobic training. Critically, 15% of all subjects undergoing a supervised exercise intervention programme (with full compliance) actually demonstrated a decline in their insulin sensitivity after exercise training. Extensive citations were provided in the original grant application documents.

A major aim of this project is to identify genomic or molecular predictors for this lack of positive benefit ('non-responder'), so that individualised health care strategies and life style changes can be produced to fight or prevent metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Identification of 'high responders' to physical training forms an additional positive outcome from our research program. Understanding the biological basis for our 'highest-responders' will provide enormous insight into the molecular basis for positive exercise adaptation and a number of important health and industry related opportunities. For example, knowledge that a patient is a high-responder could be used to encourage cardiacfailure patients to remain motivated during their rehabilitation. Knowledge that a patient was a low responder would enable clinicians to set proper expectations during rehabilitation.

Finally, as part of our research plan investigators will establish the utility of a novel time-efficient lifestyle strategy that has a high potential for being integrated into modern life.

Investigators bring together leading EU and North American investigators to study life-style determinants of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. In particular, our workpackages are focused on boosting the capacity to diagnose, develop drug-screening solutions and enable the application of personalised medicine to the field of life-style determinants of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Our deliverables include new validated products which can define higher risk populations. Investigators will achieve this through the identification and validation of molecular predictors that quantify the extent of the health benefits of increased physical activity. Optimisation of the prescription of physical activity for the treatment of insulin resistance, will contribute to the long term prevention of diabetic complications.