Effect of calorie restriction with or without exercise on body composition and fat distribution.
BACKGROUND
There is debate over the independent and combined effects of dieting and increased physical activity on improving metabolic risk factors (body composition and fat distribution).


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to conduct a randomized, controlled trial (CALERIE) to test the effect of a 25% energy deficit by diet alone or diet plus exercise for 6 months on body composition and fat distribution.


METHODS
This was a randomized, controlled trial.


METHODS
The study was conducted at an institutional research center.


METHODS
Thirty-five of 36 overweight but otherwise healthy participants (16 males, 19 females) completed the study.


METHODS
Participants were randomized to either control (healthy weight maintenance diet, n = 11), caloric restriction (CR; 25% reduction in energy intake, n = 12), or caloric restriction plus exercise (CR+EX; 12.5% reduction in energy intake + 12.5% increase in exercise energy expenditure, n = 12) for 6 months.


METHODS
Changes in body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and changes in abdominal fat distribution by multislice computed tomography were measured.


RESULTS
The calculated energy deficit across the intervention was not different between CR and CR+EX. Participants lost approximately 10% of body weight (CR: - 8.3 +/- 0.8, CR+EX: - 8.1 +/- 0.8 kg, P = 1.00), approximately 24% of fat mass (CR: - 5.8 +/- 0.6, CR+EX: - 6.4 +/- 0.6 kg, P = 0.99), and 27% of abdominal visceral fat (CR: 0.9 +/- 0.2, CR+EX: 0.8 +/- 0.2 kg, P = 1.00). Both whole-body and abdominal fat distribution were not altered by the intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Exercise plays an equivalent role to CR in terms of energy balance; however, it can also improve aerobic fitness, which has other important cardiovascular and metabolic implications.
Redman
Leanne M
LM
Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808, USA.
Heilbronn
Leonie K
LK
Martin
Corby K
CK
Alfonso
Anthony
A
Smith
Steven R
SR
Ravussin
Eric
E
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D001835:Body Weight; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight; D011859:Radiography; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging