Exercise Training Increases Ease of Movement and Energy Expenditure Following Weight Loss

Newswise — Decreases in energy expenditure can cause many dietary weight loss programs to fail. To evaluate the effects of exercise training on energy expenditure during dietary weight loss, 140 overweight women were placed on an 800 kcal/day diet and assigned to one of three groups: 1) aerobic exercise (walking, cycling), 2) resistance (weight) training, and 3) no exercise (control group). The low calorie diet produced an average weight loss of 25 pounds. Energy expenditure decreased following weight loss for the no exercise control group, but the resistance trainers increased energy expenditure. Ease of walking increased with training and was associated with greater energy expenditure due to physical activity. The results suggest that exercise training prevents a decrease in energy expenditure in the presence of dietary weight loss. Resistance training increased physical activity and improved ease and economy of walking.

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