Forced and voluntary exercise counteract insulin resistance in rats: The role of coping style

► Passive RLAs run more voluntarily in a running wheel than proactive RHAs. ► Exercise normalizes of the insulin response in hyperinsulineamic passive RLA rats. ► Behaviorally and physiologically the efficacy of voluntary and forced running is similar. ► Both forced and voluntary are successful interventions in rats with a passive coping style.