Aerobic exercise attenuates the loss of skeletal muscle during energy restriction in adults with visceral adiposity

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of energy restriction with or without aerobic exercise on thigh muscle mass and quality in adults with visceral adiposity.

Methods: 75 males and females were randomly assigned to the groups 'diet only' (DO; n = 42) or 'diet plus aerobic exercise' (D/Ex; n = 33) for 12 weeks. The target energy intake in both groups was 25 kcal/kg of ideal body weight. Subjects in the D/Ex group were instructed to exercise for ≥300 min/week at lactate threshold. Computed tomography was used to measure thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), normal-density muscle area (NDMA), and visceral fat area.

Results: Total body weight (DO: -6.6 ± 3.6%; D/Ex: -7.3 ± 4.6%) and visceral fat (DO: -16.0 ± 13.8%; D/Ex: -23.1 ± 14.7%) decreased significantly in both groups; however, the changes were not significantly different between the two groups. The decrease in muscle CSA was significantly greater in the DO group (-5.1 ± 4.5%) compared with the D/Ex group (-2.5 ± 5.0%). NDMA decreased significantly in the DO (-4.9 ± 4.9%) but not in the D/Ex group (-1.4 ± 5.0%).

Conclusion: Aerobic exercise attenuated the loss of skeletal muscle during energy restriction in adults with visceral adiposity.

Fig. 1

Percent changes in BW, FM, and FFM (as measured by the underwater method), and thigh muscle area (as measured by CT). Decreases in BW, FM, FFM, and LDMA were similar in both groups. Decreases in CSA and NDMA were greater in the DO group compared with the D/Ex group. **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001 versus baseline. ^†The interaction effect was statistically significant. N.S. = Not significant; DO = diet-induced weight loss only; D/Ex = diet-induced weight loss with aerobic exercise; BW = body weight; FM = fat mass; FFM = fat-free mass; CSA = cross-sectional area; LDMA = low-density muscle area; NDMA = normal-density muscle area.