“Usually when we talk about obesity, body composition or weight loss, we only hear about aerobic exercise,” he said.
“This paper shows that we can use resistance training and get meaningful results with a calorie-reducing diet. We can reduce the percentage of fat. body mass, body fat mass, body weight and BMI.
“If you compare the literature, these effects are similar to aerobic exercise with calorie restriction in overweight or obese adults.”
Mr. Lopez said it’s important that people fighting obesity have options beyond aerobic exercise to lose weight.
“This group may not be comfortable with the prospect of 30 or 40 minutes on a treadmill or bike,” he said.
“They can injure their knees, joints, ligaments and more because they have to carry their entire body weight during aerobic exercise.”
Unique benefit
Mr. Lopez said endurance training also caters to other important factors when it comes to weight loss, such as building or maintaining muscle mass.
“Research has also shown that resistance training is effective in avoiding muscle mass loss while reducing calorie intake,” he said.
However, Lopez stressed the study was not a comparison between aerobic exercise and endurance training.
Regardless of which type people choose, they will have to cut calories.
“If you want to lose weight, you have to reduce your calorie intake.”
‘Effects of resistance training on body composition and body weight outcomes in overweight and obese individuals across life: A systematic review and meta-analysis’ published in the magazine Review of obesity.
Source: Eurekalert
