MODULE SUPPLEMENT: ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Can These Changes Be Prevented?

Maintaining physical fitness is shown to improve insulin resistance at all ages, even in the elderly. However, even master athletes experience changes in body composition that favors insulin resistance--a loss of lean body mass and a shifting of adipose tissue from the periphery to more central locations. Thus some change in glucose tolerance may be a natural part of the aging process. At the same time, maintaining physical fitness minimizes the changes and minimizes the potential negative effects of increased levels of glycosylation.