Effects of Resistance Exercise on Total and Regional Body Composition in Overweight Sedentary Males

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 12 weeks of resistance exercise training on body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), total fat mass (FM), trunk, arm, and leg fat mass, and total lean body mass (LBM), arm, and leg lean mass of sedentary overweight healthy males. Twenty-nine sedentary overweight healthy males, aged 18-30 years, with a BMI ≥ 25, were enrolled in the study. The subjects were randomly assigned to either a resistance exercise group (REG, n=15) or an aerobic exercise group (AEG, n=14). Randomized subjects followed resistance (3 sessions/wk 60 min 2 sets × 12 repetitions of 5–7 exercises at 65% 1 repetition maximum in 1-4 weeks, 3 sets × 10 repetitions of 5–7 exercises at 75% 1 repetition maximum in 5-8 weeks, and 4 sets × 8 repetitions of 5–7 exercises at 85% 1 repetition maximum in 9-12 weeks,) and aerobic exercise programs (3 sessions/wk 60 min aerobic exercises at 40-50% heart rate reserve in 1-6 weeks and 70%–75% maximal heart rate in 5-8 weeks). At baseline and after the intervention session, total and regional body composition measurements were assessed using the Jawon make body composition analyzer (model IOI-353 Yuseong, South Korea). After the intervention study, there were significant differences observed between the groups regarding the investigated variables (BW, BMI, LBM, trunk, arm, leg lean mass, and arm fat mass p< .05). Both REG and AEG were significantly decreased the amount of total FM, BF, trunk fat mass, arm fat mass, and leg fat mass (p< .05). Trunk and arm lean mass were significantly improved only in the REG (p< .05). In conclusion, resistance exercise training is an efficient training protocol, which produced a better improvement in regional lean mass.