"Biggest Loser" Contestants - Exercise is Key to Reducing Fat and Preserving Muscle

Exercise is Key to Reducing Fat and Preserving Muscle

New research funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), looked at data from 11 “Biggest Loser” contestants to assess the impact of intensive lifestyle changes on people suffering from morbid obesity.

Researchers measured body fat, resting metabolic rate, and energy use at the beginning of the program and then again after 6 and 30 weeks. Participants lost an average of 128 pounds, 82% of which was body fat (the rest was muscle). A computer model was used to simulate the effects of diet alone or exercise alone, and found that diet alone would result in more weight loss than exercise, with 65% fat loss and 35% muscle loss. However, the simulation also found that exercise alone would cause some weight loss but would result in no muscle loss.

While both diet and exercise can lead to weight loss, it is important to get regular exercise while losing weight to preserve muscle and lean tissue. It is important to maintain muscle during weight loss because higher lean mass is associated with a higher metabolic rate, and maintaining lean tissue can help improve strength and mobility and prevent injury, among other benefits.

The Medical News. Exercise and healthy eating reduce body fat and preserve muscle in adults. Accessed October 18, 2012. Available at http://www.news-medical.net/news/20121016/Exercise-and-healthy-eating-re....