SHORT-TERM CHANGES IN BODY-COMPOSITION AND METABOLISM WITH SEVERE DIETING AND RESISTANCE EXERCISE

The primary aim was to investigate whether the reduction in resting me tabolic rate (RMR) and fat free mass (FFM) associated with a short-ter m very low kilojoule diet (VLKD) is altered by concurrent resistance e xercise. Twenty overweight, premenopausal women were pair matched on b ody surface area and randomly assigned to either diet only (3,400 kJ/d ay) or diet combined with resistance training. Before and after 4 week s of treatment, RMR was assessed by indirect calorimetry; total body m ass (TBM), FFM, and fat mass (FM) by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry; total body water (TBW) by bioelectrical impedance; and strength by a weight-lifting test. Both groups had significantly lower TBM, FFM, FM, TBW, absolute RMR, acid RMR, with FFM as the covariate, in the postte sts than the pretests with no significant differences between groups. It was concluded that 4 weeks of resistance training did not prevent o r reduce the decline in FFM and RMR observed with a VLKD.