The Long-Term Effects of Diet and Exercise on Body Composition in Overweight Subjects

Abstract

1001 Obesity is a significant and widespread dilemma in the United States. Individuals that successfully overcome obesity often struggle to maintain weight loss. PURPOSE: To examine the long-term sustainability of changes in body mass, body composition, and blood profile in previously overweight and obese subjects who participated in a low-calorie diet and exercise program. METHODS: Twenty-two subjects participated in a 10-week weight loss intervention program followed by a nine-month weight loss maintenance program. A 1200-calorie diet was used during intervention. Daily physical activity was recorded via pedometers. Throughout maintenance, total caloric intake was increased to 12 times body weight (in pounds) while daily exercise was continued. Body mass and body composition were measured prior to the 10-week intervention (pretest), prior to the maintenance program (midtest), and following the maintenance program (posttest). Blood profiles were measured in 20 of the 22 subjects. Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Body mass (−6.3 kg), body mass index (−2.3), percent body fat (−3.0%), fat mass (−4.8 kg), hip circumference (−5.1 cm), and sagittal diameter (−3.6 cm) were reduced significantly during the 10-week weight loss intervention. There were also significant reductions in total cholesterol (−32.6 mg/dl), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (−20.2 mg/dl), and blood glucose (−8.8 mg/dl) as a result of intervention. There were small, yet non-significant, changes in body mass (+2.5 kg), body mass index (+0.7), percent body fat (−1.2%), fat mass (+0.4 kg), and hip circumference (+0.8 cm) during the nine-month maintenance phase. Similarly, total cholesterol (+15.1 mg/dl), LDL-C (+13.2 mg/dl), and glucose (+4.2 mg/dl) did not significantly change during maintenance. Lean body mass did not change during intervention and maintenance. CONCLUSION: Nine-months following intervention, reductions in body mass, body composition, and blood profile measures can be maintained.