Despite the limited effects on BMI, exercise is associated with beneficial changes in body composition: Med Sci Sports Exerc.

 

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Stone Hearth News

 

  

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2015 May 12. [Epub ahead of print]
The Prospective Association Between Different Types of Exercise and Body Composition.
Drenowatz C1, Hand GA, Sagner M, Shook RP, Burgess S, Blair SN.
Author information

  

11Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 2School of Public health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 3European Society of Lifestyle Medicine, Paris, FRANCE 4Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 5College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 6Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Despite the widely accepted benefits of exercise on chronic disease risk, there remains controversy on the role of exercise in weight loss. This study examined the effect of different exercise types on measures of adiposity across different fat categories.

METHODS:

A total of 348 young adults (49% male; 28±4 years), participating in an ongoing observational study, provided valid data over a period of 12 months. Fat mass (FM) and lean mass (LM) were measured via dual x-ray absorptiometry every 3 months. Percent body fat (BF) was calculated and used to differentiate between normal fat, over fat and obese participants. At each measurement time point participants reported engagement (min/week) in aerobic exercise, resistance exercise and other exercise.

RESULTS:

Most participants (93%) reported some exercise participation during the observation period. Total exercise or specific exercise types did not significantly affect subsequent BMI after adjusting for sex, ethnicity, age and baseline values of adiposity and exercise. Resistance exercise affected lean mass (p<0.01) and fat mass (p<0.01), while aerobic exercise only affected fat mass (p<0.01). Any exercise type positively affected lean mass in normal fat participants (p<0.04). In overfat and obese participants fat mass was reduced with increasing resistance exercise (p≤0.02) but not with aerobic exercise (p≥0.09). Additionally adjusting for objectively assessed total physical activity level did not change these results.

CONCLUSION:

Despite the limited effects on BMI, exercise was associated with beneficial changes in body composition. Exercise increased lean mass in normal fat participants and reduced fat mass in overfat and obese adults. Adults with excess body fat may benefit particularly from resistance exercise.

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