… Strength Training Keeps You Slim

This is an excerpt from an article that appeared in the ‘Research in the News’ section of the Dec. 2007 issue of the American Dietietic Association.

“Attention ladies—don’t be afraid to pump some iron! Strength training can prevent overweight and obese premenopausal women from gaining body fat and reduces increases of intra-abdominal fat, according to the results of a randomized, controlled trial reported in the September 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. An ethnically diverse sample of 164 overweight or obese women (body mass index 25 to 35) aged 25 to 44 years participated in the randomized study. Eighty-two women participated in twice-weekly strength training for 2 years, while the control group received brochures recommending aerobic exercise. Assessments at baseline, 1, and 2 years included intra-abdominal fat by computed tomography scan, and body fat and fat-free mass by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. For the treatment group, changes in percentage body fat were –3.68%±0.99% compared to –0.14%±1.04% for the control group (P=.01). Changes in intra-abdominal fat were 7.05%±5.07% for the treatment group and 21.36%±5.34% for the control group (P=.05)….”

What does this mean for you? Adding strength training just twice per week to your weight management program is one of the most effective ways to lose fat, especially that dangerous fat around your mid-section. Look for future posts on strength training programs on my Web site.