DOES THE AMOUNT OF ENDURANCE EXERCISE IN COMBINATION WITH WEIGHT TRAINING AND A VERY-LOW-ENERGY DIET AFFECT RESTING METABOLIC-RATE AND BODY-COMPOSITION

Effects of large (LA; 400 min/wk) and moderate (MA; 200 min/wk) amount s of endurance exercise in combination with weight training (3 d/wk) w ere compared with the effects of no exercise (C) in 23 obese females a fter a 12-wk, 3360-kJ/d very-low-energy diet (VLED). The LA group lost 6.5 kg more weight, mainly as fat (6.4 kg), than the C group (P < 0.0 5). No measurable differences were found among groups for decreases in resting metabolic rate (-729 to -1233 kJ/d; NS) or fat-free mass (-2. 9 to -3.9 kg; NS). No improvements in aerobic capacity were achieved w ith the addition of exercise to a VLED (-0.079 to -0.037 L/min; NS). S trength indexes were improved (+16 to +5 kg; P < 0.05) or maintained w ith exercise (-3 kg; NS) whereas a loss (-9.3 kg; P < 0.05) or mainten ance (+4.5 kg; NS) was found for VLED alone. Large amounts of enduranc e exercise in combination with weight training added to a VLED appear to improve weight and fat loss compared with a VLED alone.