PurposeTo evaluate a16‐wk energy (En)‐restricted diet with 2 levels of PRO, plus high‐intensity interval exercise (Zumba®), for reducing AbOb and MetS risk in women.MethodsSedentary, overweight, women (n=35, age=35.3±10.2y) were randomly assigned to −300kcal/d En‐restricted, Exchange‐based diets with either 15% PRO (15PRO) or 25% PRO including 20g/d supplemented whey PRO (25PRO). Exercise was 45min/d, 3d/wk of Zumba® and 45min/d, 2d/wk of self‐selected moderate‐intensity aerobic exercise. Body weight (BW), waist circumference (WC), body fat, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), trigylcerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), and resting blood pressure (RBP) were assessed pre‐ and post‐intervention.ResultsThere were significant time, but not group, differences between 15PRO and 25PRO, respectively, in BW (−5.8±2.7kg;−4.5±2.4kg, p=0.0141), WC (−8.0±3.6cm; −6.7±3.5cm, p<0.001), abdominal fat (−5.9±2.6%; −4.5±2.5%, p<0.0001), total body fat (−3.8±1.3%; − 2.9±1.8%, p=0.0002), and TG (−37.0±61.0mg/dl; −14.3±42.1mg/dl, p<0.05). There were no differences for time or group for FPG, HDL‐C, or RBP.ConclusionBoth diets effectively reduced AbOb; thus, increasing PRO intake did not improve AbOb or MetS risk beyond En‐restriction, healthy eating and food selection behaviors, and high‐intensity exercise. Funded by Standard Process, Inc and USDA Nat'l Needs Graduate Fellowship.Grant Funding Source : Standard Process, Inc