title: A systematic review of the separate and combined effects of energy restriction and exercise on fat-free mass in middle-aged and older adults: implications for sarcopenic obesity.
abstract: The systematic review presented here assessed the effects of energy restriction (ER) and exercise (EX) on fat-free mass (FFM) in overweight and obese middle-aged and older adults. PubMed was searched using the key words "weight loss or energy restriction" AND "skeletal muscle or body composition," with limitations set for "human" and "middle-aged and aged." Results from 52 studies are reported as the percentages of EX (mainly aerobic training), ER, or ER+EX groups that had a specified change in body weight and FFM, since insufficient data were available for a meta-analysis. The EX groups had modest body weight and FFM changes. Eighty-one percent and 39% of the ER and ER+EX groups, respectively, lost > or = 15% of body weight as FFM. These findings suggest that exercise is an effective tool to help men and postmenopausal women aged > or = 50 years, with a BMI greater than 25 kg/m(2) preserve FFM after moderate ER-induced weight loss, which is important for combating sarcopenic obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
authors.forename: Eileen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Weinheimer
authors.forename: Laura P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Sands
authors.forename: Wayne W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000628:therapy; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000628:therapy*; D015431:Weight Loss