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Exercise-Induced Weight Loss in Postmenopausal Women

BMIs and body fat percentages were lower among women who exercised for 1 year than among those who remained sedentary.

Exercise-induced weight loss can increase muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness. In this randomized, controlled trial, U.S. investigators evaluated the effects of a year-long exercise program in 173 postmenopausal, overweight, sedentary, nonsmoking women who were not taking hormones (age range, 50-75; BMI, >25, or 24-25 with body fat >33%; fasting blood glucose, <140 mg/dL). Women who were assigned to the exercise group were instructed to perform 45 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (e.g., walking, bicycling) 5 days each week (they exercised at the study facility for 3 of 5 days during the first 3 months and for 1 of 5 days thereafter). Women in the control group attended weekly 45-minute stretching sessions and were asked to maintain their usual exercise habits. All participants were instructed to maintain their usual dietary habits.

During 1 year, women in the exercise group exercised a mean of 3.5 days for 176 minutes per week. The exercise group had a significantly lower mean BMI at 1 year than did the control group (a reduction of 0.3 in the exercise group vs. a gain of 0.3 in the control group). Women who were highly active (exercised >195 minutes per week) or moderately active (135-195 minutes per week) lost significantly more total body fat (mean, 4.2% and 2.4%, respectively) than did controls (0.4%). In addition, the highly active women lost a mean of 6.9% of their intra-abdominal body fat, and the moderately active women lost a mean of 5.9%, whereas the control women gained a mean of 0.1%. Maximal oxygen consumption increased significantly in the exercise group.

Comment: This exercise program helped sedentary postmenopausal women lower their BMIs and total and intra-abdominal body fat percentages and improve their oxygen consumption. Clinicians should use these findings to promote fitness and weight loss through exercise.

— Mary A. Shepard, MD

Published in Journal Watch Women's Health March 5, 2003

Citation(s):

Irwin ML et al. Effect of exercise on total and intra-abdominal body fat in postmenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2003 Jan 15; 289:323-30.

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