Exercise Prescription Guideline for Weight Gain in Individuals with Constitutional Thinness: Scoping Review

Authors

1 MSc Student, Musculoskeletal Disorders Research Center AND Student Research Committee of Rehabilitation Students AND Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science AND Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

10.48305/jrrs.2022.31047

Abstract

Introduction: Constitutional thinness (CT) is a condition where a person is naturally thin without any signs of malnutrition. This study aims to assess the available evidence on the effectiveness of exercise in increasing the weight of people with this type of thinness.
Materials and Methods: A search was conducted for articles in both Persian and English languages in national and international databases between October and December 2022 at the Musculoskeletal Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. There was not any time or type of publication limit for the publications. The search was conducted using the keywords "constitutional thinness", "exercise", "exercise training", "fat mass", "fat-free mass", "physical activity", "body mass index", "weight", and "weight gain".
Results: It seems that no research has been conducted on the impact of exercise on weight gain and body mass index (BMI) in this population.
Conclusion: The potential impact of regular exercise on individuals with CT has been discussed based on the theoretical mechanisms through which exercise affects different bodily systems. It is recommended that clinical studies be designed and conducted to examine the effect of exercise in helping these individuals to gain weight.

Keywords

  1. Batrakoulis A. Psychophysiological adaptations to yoga practice in overweight and obese individuals: A Topical Review. Diseases 2022; 10(4): 107.
  2. Gilyana M, Batrakoulis A, Zisi V. physical activity, body image, and emotional intelligence differences in adults with overweight and obesity. Diseases 2023; 11(2): 71.
  3. Lee HS, Lee J. Effects of exercise interventions on weight, body mass index, lean body mass and accumulated visceral fat in overweight and obese individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18(5): 2635.
  4. Creasy SA, Ostendorf DM, Blankenship JM, Grau L, Arbet J, Bessesen DH, et al. Effect of sleep on weight loss and adherence to diet and physical activity recommendations during an 18-month behavioral weight loss intervention. Int J Obes (Lond) 2022; 46(8): 1510-7.
  5. Fenton S, Burrows TL, Collins CE, Rayward AT, Murawski B, Duncan MJ. Efficacy of a multi-component m-health diet, physical activity, and sleep intervention on dietary intake in adults with overweight and obesity: A randomised controlled trial. Nutrients 2021; 13(7): 2468.
  6. Caldwell AE, Purcell SA, Gray B, Smieja H, Catenacci VA. The impact of yoga on components of energy balance in adults with overweight or obesity: A systematic review. Obes Sci Pract 2022; 8(2): 219-32.
  7. Estour B, Galusca B, Germain N. Constitutional thinness and anorexia nervosa: a possible misdiagnosis? Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2014; 5: 175.
  8. Lund J, Lund C, Morville T, Clemmensen C. The unidentified hormonal defense against weight gain. PLoS Biol 2020; 18(2): e3000629.
  9. Ling Y, Galusca B, Martin FP, Bartova S, Carayol J, Moco S, et al. Resistance to lean mass gain in constitutional thinness in free-living conditions is not overpassed by overfeeding. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2020; 11(5): 1187-99.
  10. Germain N, Galusca B, Caron-Dorval D, Martin JF, Pujos-Guillot E, Boirie Y, et al. Specific appetite, energetic and metabolomics responses to fat overfeeding in resistant-to-bodyweight-gain constitutional thinness. Nutr Diabetes 2014; 4(7): e126.
  11. Ling Y, Carayol J, Galusca B, Canto C, Montaurier C, Matone A, et al. Persistent low body weight in humans is associated with higher mitochondrial activity in white adipose tissue. Am J Clin Nutr 2019; 110(3): 605-16.
  12. Bailly M, Germain N, Galusca B, Courteix D, Thivel D, Verney J. Definition and diagnosis of constitutional thinness: A systematic review. Br J Nutr 2020; 124(6): 531-47.
  13. Bailly M, Germain N, Feasson L, Costes F, Estour B, Hourde C, et al. Skeletal muscle of females and males with constitutional thinness: A low intramuscular lipid content and oxidative profile. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2020; 45(11): 1287-98.
  14. Galusca B, Verney J, Meugnier E, Ling Y, Edouard P, Feasson L, et al. Reduced fibre size, capillary supply and mitochondrial activity in constitutional thinness' skeletal muscle. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2018; 224(3): e13097.
  15. Blundell JE, Gibbons C, Caudwell P, Finlayson G, Hopkins M. Appetite control and energy balance: impact of exercise. Obes Rev 2015; 16 Suppl 1: 67-76.
  16. Habibzadeh N. Effects of two-month walking exercise on bone mass density in young, thin women. Biomed Hum Kinet 2010; 2(2010): 5-8.
  17. Cole TJ, Flegal KM, Nicholls D, Jackson AA. Body mass index cut offs to define thinness in children and adolescents: international survey. BMJ 2007; 335(7612): 194.
  18. World Health Organization. Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Body Mass Index (BMI) [Online]. [cited 2021];Available from: URL: http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.BMIANTHROPOMETRY?lang=en
  19. Bailly M, Boscaro A, Pereira B, Courteix D, Germain N, Galusca B, et al. Underweight but not underfat: Is fat-free mass a key factor in constitutionally thin women? Eur J Clin Nutr 2021; 75(12): 1764-70.
  20. Bossu C, Galusca B, Normand S, Germain N, Collet P, Frere D, et al. Energy expenditure adjusted for body composition differentiates constitutional thinness from both normal subjects and anorexia nervosa. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2007; 292(1): E132-E137.
  21. Bailly M, Germain N, Galusca B, Courteix D, Thivel D, Verney J. Invited Letter to Editor in response to: Constitutional thinness: body fat metabolism and skeletal muscle are important factors. Br J Nutr 2020; 124(9): 999-1000.
  22. Galusca B, Zouch M, Germain N, Bossu C, Frere D, Lang F, et al. Constitutional thinness: Unusual human phenotype of low bone quality. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2008; 93(1): 110-7.
  23. Bailly M, Boscaro A, Pereira B, Feasson L, Boirie Y, Germain N, et al. Is constitutional thinness really different from anorexia nervosa? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2021; 22(4): 913-71.
  24. Maffetone P. Constitutional thinness: body fat metabolism and skeletal muscle are important factors. Br J Nutr 2020; 124(9): 998.
  25. Burrows R, Correa-Burrows P, Reyes M, Blanco E, Albala C, Gahagan S. Low muscle mass is associated with cardiometabolic risk regardless of nutritional status in adolescents: A cross-sectional study in a Chilean birth cohort. Pediatr Diabetes 2017; 18(8): 895-902.
  26. Krzysztofik M, Wilk M, Wojdala G, Golas A. Maximizing muscle hypertrophy: A systematic review of advanced resistance training techniques and methods. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16(24).
  27. Ling Y, Galusca B, Hager J, Feasson L, Valsesia A, Epelbaum J, et al. Rational and design of an overfeeding protocol in constitutional thinness: Understanding the physiology, metabolism and genetic background of resistance to weight gain. Ann Endocrinol (Paris) 2016; 77(5): 563-9.
  28. McArdle WD, Katch FI, Katch VL. Exercise physiology: Energy, nutrition, and human performance. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2015.
  29. American College of Sports Medicine. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41(3): 687-708.
  30. Counts BR, Buckner SL, Mouser JG, Dankel SJ, Jessee MB, Mattocks KT, et al. Muscle growth: To infinity and beyond? Muscle Nerve 2017; 56(6): 1022-30.
  31. Schoenfeld BJ, Contreras B, Krieger J, Grgic J, Delcastillo K, Belliard R, et al. Resistance training volume enhances muscle hypertrophy but not strength in trained men. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2019; 51(1): 94-103.
  32. Schoenfeld BJ. The mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy and their application to resistance training. J Strength Cond Res 2010; 24(10): 2857-72.
  33. Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Davies TB, Lazinica B, Krieger JW, Pedisic Z. Effect of resistance training frequency on gains in muscular strength: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Med 2018; 48(5): 1207-20.
  34. Ball D. Metabolic and endocrine response to exercise: Sympathoadrenal integration with skeletal muscle. J Endocrinol 2015; 224(2): R79-95.
  35. Roig M, O'Brien K, Kirk G, Murray R, McKinnon P, Shadgan B, et al. The effects of eccentric versus concentric resistance training on muscle strength and mass in healthy adults: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med 2009; 43(8): 556-68.
  36. American College of Sports Medicine. ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2018.
  37. Kraemer WJ, Ratamess NA. Hormonal responses and adaptations to resistance exercise and training. Sports Med 2005; 35(4): 339-61.
  38. Whittaker J, Harris M. Low-carbohydrate diets and men's cortisol and testosterone: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Health 2022; 28(4): 543-54.
  39. Beserra AHN, Kameda P, Deslandes AC, Schuch FB, Laks J, Moraes HS. Can physical exercise modulate cortisol level in subjects with depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Trends Psychiatry Psychother 2018; 40(4): 360-8.
  40. Kraemer WJ, Ratamess NA, Hymer WC, Nindl BC, Fragala MS. Growth hormone(s), testosterone, insulin-like growth factors, and cortisol: roles and integration for cellular development and growth with exercise. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11: 33.
  41. Zhubi-Bakija F, Bajraktari G, Bytyci I, Mikhailidis DP, Henein MY, Latkovskis G, et al. The impact of type of dietary protein, animal versus vegetable, in modifying cardiometabolic risk factors: A position paper from the International Lipid Expert Panel (ILEP). Clin Nutr 2021; 40(1): 255-76.
  42. Ronis MJJ, Pedersen KB, Watt J. Adverse effects of nutraceuticals and dietary supplements. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2018; 58: 583-601.