Effect Of Gender And Body Type On Strength Gain From Different Modes Of Resistance Training

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The discussion of the influence of body type on potential to gain strength from resistance training (RT) is a relatively new field of investigation. What has not been explored is the degree to which body type might impact the potential for strength gains between men and women. PURPOSE: To determine the influence of sex and body type on changes in upper-body strength resulting from free-weight RT in college men and women. METHODS: College men and women were measured for fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) determined from gender-specific skinfold equations. Body type was determined by regressing FFM/Ht2 on FM/Ht2 for each sex and partitioned into thirds as slender (SL), average (AV), and solid (SO). Men and women were matched for body type: SL (men = 40, women = 50), AV (men = 62, women = 44), and SO (men = 60, women = 43). RM bench press was measured before and after 12 weeks of linear periodization free weight RT performed 3 times/week in 3 sets of 6 overall body exercises. RESULTS: Sex x body type ANOVA on absolute strength revealed significantly greater (p<0.001) gains by men (6.8 ± 8.4 kg) than women (4.2 ± 3.0 kg) but no significant difference (p = 0.15) across body types (SL = 6.5 ± 8.9, AV = 5.3 ± 5.9, SO = 5.2 ± 5.4 kg). The sex x body type interaction was not significant (p = 0.60). Absolute strength gains were poorly correlated with initial strength (r = 0.01, r = -0.10, respectively) and body type (r = 0.00, r = -0.11, respectively) in men and women. Sex x body type ANOVA on relative strength gain indicated a significantly greater (p=0.04) gain by women (14.0 ± 14.2%) than men (10.6 ± 12.6%) but no significant difference among body types (SL = 13.8 ± 15.3%, AV = 11.9 ± 14.2, SO = 11.0 ± 11.1%). The sex x body type interaction was not significant (p = 0.38). Relative strength gains were significantly correlated with initial strength in both men (r = -0.27) and women (r = -0.34) as well with body type (r = 0.06 and r = -0.07 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: When following the same RT program, men make a greater absolute gain but women make a greater relative gain in upper-body strength. Body type does not seem to influence the degree of absolute or relative strength gain in RT in either sex. Initial strength level has little influence on the amount of strength to be gained during short-term training.