Effects of Multicomponent Training on Body Composition and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ABSTRACT

We investigated whether 14 weeks of multicomponent training delivered as small‐sided soccer improves body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and metabolic outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes. Adults aged 40–70 years ( n  = 111) were randomized to exercise ( n  = 66; three 60‐min sessions per week) or usual care ( n  = 45). Constrained linear mixed models estimated between‐group differences in change. No between‐group difference was detected in the primary outcome, lean body mass (0.04 kg, 95% CI −0.97 to 1.05), or in fat mass, body fat percentage, or HbA1c. Compared with usual care, exercise produced greater increases in relative VO _2peak (between‐group difference: 2.80 mL·kg ⁻¹ ·min ⁻¹ , 95% CI 1.69 to 3.92), absolute VO _2peak (237 mL/min, 95% CI 143 to 331), and Yo–Yo Intermittent Endurance Level 1 test performance (122 m, 95% CI 12 to 232). Exploratory analyses showed lower C‐peptide (−10.3%, 95% CI −19.0 to −0.6) and HOMA2‐IR (−10.8%, 95% CI −20.1 to −0.6), and higher HOMA2‐%S (+12.2%, 95% CI 0.6 to 25.1), in the exercise group relative to usual care. Exploratory three‐way interaction tests provided no clear evidence that glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1RA) use modified the effects on lean body mass, fat mass, or absolute VO _2peak . Small‐sided soccer improved cardiorespiratory fitness, whereas a benefit for lean body mass was not demonstrated. The metabolic findings require confirmation.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06478173