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. 2017 Nov;25(11):1823-1829.
doi: 10.1002/oby.21977.

Effect of Exercise Type During Intentional Weight Loss on Body Composition in Older Adults with Obesity

Kristen M Beavers  1 , Walter T Ambrosius  2 , W Jack Rejeski  1 , Jonathan H Burdette  3 , Michael P Walkup  2 , Jessica L Sheedy  1 , Beverly A Nesbit  1 , Jill E Gaukstern  1 , Barbara J Nicklas  4 , Anthony P Marsh  1
Affiliations

Effect of Exercise Type During Intentional Weight Loss on Body Composition in Older Adults with Obesity

Kristen M Beavers et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2017 Nov.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the long-term effects of exercise modality during weight loss on body composition and associations between body composition and physical function changes.

Methods: Two hundred forty-nine older adults (66.9 ± 4.7 years, 71% women, 32% African American, BMI: 34.4 ± 3.7 kg/m2 ) were randomized to weight loss (WL; n = 82), WL plus aerobic training (WL + AT; n = 86), or WL plus resistance training (WL + RT; n = 81) for 18 months. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry-acquired body composition, 400-m walk time, and knee extensor strength were measured at baseline and at 6 and 18 months.

Results: Total body mass loss was enhanced when WL was combined with exercise (WL: -5.7 ± 0.7 kg, WL + AT: -8.5 ± 0.7 kg, WL + RT: -8.7 ± 0.7 kg; P < 0.01). Total body fat mass loss was significantly greater in WL + AT (-6.8 ± 0.6 kg, -16.4%) and WL + RT (-7.8 ± 0.5 kg, -19.0%) than WL (-4.8 ± 0.6 kg, -10.9%); both P < 0.01. Lean mass loss was greatest in WL + AT (-1.6 ± 0.3 kg, -3.1%) compared with WL + RT (-0.8 ± 0.3 kg, -1.5%) or WL (-1.0 ± 0.3 kg; -2.0%); both P ≤ 0.02. Change in 400-m walk time was associated with change in fat mass (β/SD = +6.1 s; P < 0.01), while change in knee extensor strength was associated with change in lean mass (β/SD = +1.6 Nm; P < 0.01).

Conclusions: WL + RT results in less lean mass lost than WL + AT; WL plus exercise yields greater fat mass loss than WL alone.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01547182.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overall change in total body mass, partitioned into fat and lean compartments, by treatment group and adjusted for baseline value of the outcome, treatment group, gender, time, and treatment group by time interaction.
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