Does abdominal exercise training reduce abdominal fat?

Male players usually accumulate fat in the torso and in particular around the abdominals. This excess fat is associated with lower performance and if it becomes of large amount may also negatively affect vessels health. So, the question that often arises by athletes and others is “Can I lose abdominal fat with exercises for the abdominals?”

There are not many studies on this issue in the literature. In a recent study by Vispute et al (2011), 24 volunteers were randomly assigned to 1 of the following 2 groups: control group (CG) or abdominal exercise group (AG). The AG performed 7 abdominal exercises, for 2 sets of 10 repetitions, on 5 d·wk⁻¹ for 6 weeks. The CG received no intervention, and all participants maintained an isocaloric diet throughout the study. The results showed no significant effect of abdominal exercises on body weight, body fat percentage, abdominal fat and abdominal circumference.

It was concluded that 6 weeks of abdominal exercise training alone was not sufficient to reduce abdominal subcutaneous fat and other measures of body composition.

Vispute et al. The effect of abdominal exercise on abdominal fat. J Strength Cond Res 25(9): 2559-2564, 2011