Effect of a hypocaloric diet, increased protein intake and resistance training on lean mass gains and fat mass loss in overweight police officers

We compare the effects of a moderate hypocaloric, high-protein diet and res istance training, using two different protein supplements, versus hypocalor ic diet alone on body compositional changes in overweight police officers. A randomized, prospective 12-week study was per formed comparing the change s in body composition produced by th ree different treatment modalities in th ree study groups. One group (n = 10) was placed on a non-lipogenic, hypo caloric diet atone (80% of predicted needs). A second group (n = 14) was pl aced on the hypocaloric diet plus resistance exercise plus a high-protein i ntake (1.5 g/kg/day) using a casein protein hydrolysate. In the third group (n = 14) treatment was identical to the second, except for the use of a wh ey protein hydrolysate. We found that weight loss was approximately 2.5 kg in all three groups. Mean percent body fat with diet alone decreased from a baseline of 27 +/- 1.8 to 25 +/- 1.3% at 12 weeks. With diet, exercise and casein the decrease was from 26 +/- 1.7 to 18 +/- 1.1% and with diet, exer cise and whey protein the decrease was from 27 +/- 1.6 to 23 +/- 1.3%. The mean fat loss was 2.5 +/- 0.6, 7.0 +/- 2.1 and 4.2 +/- 0.9 kg in the three groups, respectively. Lean mass gains in the three groups did not change fo r diet alone, versus gains of 4 +/- 1.4 and 2 +/- 0.7 kg in the casein and whey groups, respectively. Mean increase in strength for chest, shoulder an d legs was 59 +/- 9% for casein and 29 +/- 9% for whey, a significant group difference. This significant difference in body composition and strength i s likely due to improved nitrogen retention and overall anticatabolic effec ts caused by the peptide components of the casein hydrolysate. Copyright (C ) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.