TUESDAY, June 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Could exercise that uses slow movements and breathing, like tai chi, do as much for trimming belly fat in older adults as aerobic exercise?
It might. A new study found that individuals aged 50 and up who practiced tai chi for 12 weeks lost about as much waist circumference as older adults who did conventional exercise (such as aerobics and strength training).
Though tai chi is considered a suitable activity for older people, including those who are not active, there previously has been little evidence of its health benefits, said study author Parco Siu. He is head of the division of kinesiology at the University of Hong Kong School of Public Health.
"Our statistical analysis did not suggest tai chi is more effective than conventional exercise, but showed that tai chi mirrors the beneficial effects of conventional exercise by reducing waist circumference in middle-aged and older adults with central obesity," Siu said. "Our data suggest that tai chi can be an effective alternative to conventional exercise in the management of central obesity."
In the study, the 543 participants each had "central obesity," which happens in those with metabolic syndrome, the authors said. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Siu's team randomly assigned study participants to three groups. The program used what is called the Yang style of tai chi. Conventional exercisers did brisk walking and strength training. The two exercise groups did their assigned exercises in instructor-led workouts three times a week for an hour. The third group did not exercise.
The researchers assessed the participants' bodies at baseline, week 12 and week 38. They also assessed secondary outcomes including body weight, body mass index, HDL ("good") cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose and blood pressure.
The two exercise groups lost about the same amount of waist circumference. They also saw favorable impact on their HDL cholesterol. They did not have detectable differences in fasting glucose or blood pressure. The control group gained an average of 0.8 cm (about one-third of an inch) to their waist circumference over the 12 weeks.
"Tai chi can be an effective alternative to conventional exercise in the management of central obesity. This is good news for middle-aged and older adults who have central obesity but may be averse to conventional exercise due to preference or limited mobility," Siu said.
A mind-body exercise that involves slow movements and breathing, tai chi has been described as "meditation in motion." It is practiced in many Asian countries and is becoming more popular in Western countries, such as the United States, where about 2 million people practice it, the study authors noted.
"Tai chi is quite accessible at community centers and sports/fitness clubs," Siu said. "Tai chi has various other health benefits including fall prevention, osteoarthritis management, cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal fitness, cardiometabolic health, and psychological health."
The findings were published May 31 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
"The underlying mechanisms explaining the beneficial effects of tai chi on health are still largely unclear. More research is needed to reveal the mechanisms explaining the health effects of tai chi," Siu said.
Michael Rogers, an American College of Sports Medicine fellow and director for the Center for Physical Activity and Aging at Wichita State University in Kansas, said past research he's been involved with had different results, though the impact the research was considering was not exactly the same.
In Rogers' study, the research team compared cardiovascular measures in exercise groups to four modes prescribed for older adults: aerobic; strength; balance and flexibility; and a tai chi group.
"Out of all those different modes, the only one to improve aerobic fitness was the aerobic group. We did not determine changes in body composition. We only looked at aerobic performance," Rogers said. "You could argue its apples and oranges we're trying to compare here — aerobic fitness versus body fat — but the two are related," he added.
"We know tai chi is great for balance, of course, but also for increasing muscular strength," Rogers said. "This is probably the first one I'm familiar with showing that tai chi has an effect on fat in middle-aged and older adults."
The new study was not diet-focused, and Rogers wondered if perhaps those in the tai chi group became more aware of their bodies through the mind-body exercise and took additional steps to improve their nutrition, thereby reducing their waist circumference. Rogers would like to see further studies that control for diet, but also look at the effect that the mind-body connection in tai chi may have on the body.
For older adults planning to start an exercise routine, he suggests a well-rounded exercise program with two modes, aerobic exercise plus either balance, strength or tai chi.
"The type of exercise needs to be something that's within their abilities, of course, but also be something that they enjoy in a place that's safe for them and where they can get help if needed," Rogers said.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the benefits of exercise for older adults.
SOURCES: Parco Siu, PhD, associate professor and head, division of kinesiology, School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong; Michael Rogers, PhD, professor, department of human performance studies, graduate coordinator, exercise science program, director, Center for Physical Activity and Aging, Wichita State University, and faculty member, University of Kansas Medical Center, Wichita; Annals of Internal Medicine, May 31, 2021, online
