Blood glucose measurement of a diabetes patient

Study on exercise & climatotherapy for diabetes and obesity

I. Angelov et al.

May 1981

Climate treatment

Diabetes

Overweight / obesity

For this study of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, observations and examinations were carried out on 50 patients with advanced diabetes and mild obesity of the dietary-metabolic type in a mid-mountainous area (1870 m above sea level).

After 20 days of treatment, which included daily sustained exercise, cool sun-air baths and a moderately calorie-restricted diet of 1600-1800 kcal, a clinically significant reduction in various lipid levels was observed. These included total lipids, total cholesterol, beta-lipoproteins, triglycerides, esterified fatty acids and low-density lipoproteins (LDL cholesterol), with an average reduction of 9.3% to 19.5%. A greater reduction in lipid levels was observed at higher baseline values and with a moderate weight reductionof 3.5 kg during the 20-day treatment.

The physical exercise and the cool sun-air baths stimulated lipolysis, whereby the increased levels of free fatty acids were mainly used to supply the body with energy. The increased lipolysis probably played a significant role in the positive effect on hyperlipidemia.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Diabetes, obesity
Institution: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
Title: Study on exercise & climatotherapy for diabetes and obesity
Brief description: The study shows: climatotherapy with exercise, sun-air baths and diet significantly lowers lipid levels and promotes lipolysis in diabetes.
Original title: Effects of physical activity and mid-alpine climatotherapy on serum lipids on adult diabetics and in obesity
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7324455/