title: Influence of diet and/or exercise on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in obese women.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to measure the influence of diet, exercise, or both on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in obese women. Ninety-one obese subjects were randomized into one of four groups: diet (D) (4.19-5.44 MJ or 1,200-1,300 kcal/day), exercise (E) (five 45-min sessions at 78.5+/-0.5% maximum heart rate), exercise and diet (ED), and controls (C). Maximal aerobic power and body composition were measured in all subjects before and after a 12-week diet intervention period. Subjects in D and ED lost 7.8+/-0.7 and 8.1+/-0.6 kg body mass, with no significant change for E relative to C. Losses of percent body fat and fat mass were significantly greater in D and ED but not in E relative to C. The change in VO2max was greater in ED and E but not D when compared to C. Results indicate that moderate aerobic exercise training during a 12-week period has no discernible effects on body composition but does improve cardiorespiratory fitness in dieting obese women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Utter
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Nieman
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Shannonhouse
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Butterworth
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Nieman
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D015431:Weight Loss