A systematic review of the separate and combined effects of energy restriction and exercise on fat-free mass in middle-aged and older adults: implications for sarcopenic obesity

• Published in: Nutrition reviews 2010-07, Vol.68 (7), p.375-388
• Main Authors: Weinheimer, Eileen M, Sands, Laura P, Campbell, Wayne W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; aging; Body Composition; Caloric Restriction; Combined Modality Therapy; Diet, Reducing; Exercise; Female; Humans; Male; Middle age; Middle Aged; muscle loss; Muscle, Skeletal; Nutrition research; Obesity; Obesity - complications; Obesity - diet therapy; Obesity - therapy; Older people; Overweight - complications; Overweight - diet therapy; Overweight - therapy; Sarcopenia - complications; Sarcopenia - diet therapy; Sarcopenia - therapy; Systematic review; Weight control; Weight Loss
• ISSN: 0029-6643; 1753-4887
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00298.x

The systematic review presented here assessed the effects of energy restriction (ER) and exercise (EX) on fat‐free mass (FFM) in overweight and obese middle‐aged and older adults. PubMed was searched using the key words “weight loss or energy restriction” AND “skeletal muscle or body composition,” with limitations set for “human” and “middle‐aged and aged.” Results from 52 studies are reported as the percentages of EX (mainly aerobic training), ER, or ER+EX groups that had a specified change in body weight and FFM, since insufficient data were available for a meta‐analysis. The EX groups had modest body weight and FFM changes. Eighty‐one percent and 39% of the ER and ER+EX groups, respectively, lost ≥15% of body weight as FFM. These findings suggest that exercise is an effective tool to help men and postmenopausal women aged ≥50 years, with a BMI greater than 25 kg/m2 preserve FFM after moderate ER‐induced weight loss, which is important for combating sarcopenic obesity.