This review found that exercise improves blood sugar control and that this effect is evident even without weight loss. Furthermore,
exercise decreases body fat content, thus the failure to lose weight with exercise programmes is probably explained by the conversion of
fat to muscle. Exercise improved the body’s reaction to insulin and decreased blood lipids. Quality of life was only assessed in one study,
which found no difference between the two groups. No significant difference was found between groups in blood levels of cholesterol
or blood pressure. A total of 14 randomised controlled trials were assessed. These included 377 participants and compared groups that
differed only with respect to an exercise programme intervention. The duration of the interventions in the studies ranged from eight
weeks to one year. Two studies reported follow-up information, one at six months after the end of the six month exercise intervention
and one at twelve months post-intervention. Generally, the studies were well-conducted, but blinding of outcome assessors was not
reported and although all studies reported that randomisation was performed, few gave details of the method