COMPARABLE EFFECTS OF DIET AND EXERCISE ON BODY-COMPOSITION AND LIPOPROTEINS IN OLDER MEN

Changes in body composition, fat distribution and lipoprotein lipids i n response to weight loss elicited by a 10-month program of hypocalori c diet (HD) therapy alone or combined with aerobic exercise training ( AEX+HD) were examined in sedentary obese older males. Body composition was assessed by hydrodensitometry and fat distribution was evaluated with skinfold thickness and circumference measures. The HD group under went a dietary/behavioral modification program to reduce caloric intak e. The AEX+HD group underwent a similar dietary modification program c ombined with aerobic exercise training. Following completion of the st udy, 15 subjects from each group were individually pair matched based on age (57.1 +/- 1.7 vs 61.3 +/- 2.4 yrs) and their reduction in body mass (-7.6 +/- 1.3 vs -8.0 +/- 1.1 kg). Reductions in fat and fat-free mass and skinfold thickness and circumferences were similar in both g roups. In both the AEX+HD and HD groups there were significant reducti ons in the ratio of low-density lipoproteins to high-density lipoprote ins (HDL-C) and triglycerides and a significant increase in HDL(2)-C. There were no differences in final values or absolute and relative cha nges in the various lipoprotein Values between the two groups. These r esults suggest weight loss induced by diet alone or combined with aero bic exercise cause similar changes in body composition and lipoprotein lipids.