Effects of aerobic exercise and dietary carbohydrate on energy expenditure and body composition during weight reduction in obese women

To test the benefits of aerobic exercise and dietary carbohydrate during reduced-energy feeding, 23 obese women (44 ± 4% fat) were randomly assigned to either aerobic exercise (Ex) or no exercise (Nx), and to a low-fat (LF) or low-carbohydrate (LC) reducing diet (5.00 ± 0.56 MJ/d) for 12 wk. Changes in body composition, postabsorptive resting metabolic rate (RMR), thermic effect of a meal (TEM), and total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) were measured by respiratory gas exchange and doubly labeled water. Significant effects of Ex included a greater loss of fat mass (Ex: -8.8 ± 2.1 vs Nx: -6.1 ± 2.3 kg, P = 0.008) and maintenance of TDEE (Ex: +0.07 ± 1.23 vs Nx: -1.46 ± 1.04 MJ/d, P = 0.004), due to a difference in physical activity (Ex: +0.75 ± 1.06 vs Nx: -0.61 ± 1.03 MJ/d, P = 0.006), which was not attributable solely to the Ex sessions. RMR in both groups decreased comparably (-0.54 MJ/d), and TEM (% of meal) did not change. Diet composition did not significantly influence body composition or energy expenditure changes, but a greater weight loss was observed after the LC than after the LF (-10.6 ± 2.0 vs - 8.1 ± 3.0 kg, P = 0.037) diet. The addition of aerobic exercise to a low- energy diet was beneficial in the treatment of moderate obesity because of its favorable effects on body composition, physical activity, and TDEE.