Is Resistance Training Protective Against Age Associated Increases in Body Weight?
M. Kathryn H. Schmitz, Ph.D., M.P.H. Division of Epidmiology University of Minnesota There has been limited research on the efficacy of interventions to prevent weight gain. This pilot study focuses on increased physical activity, specifically weight training, to increase energy expenditure for the purpose of preventing weight gain. Evidence that physical activity may be protective against weight gain includes cross-sectional data showing lower weight in physically active than sedentary free-living adults. In this study, it is predicted that in normal and moderately overweight middle-aged pre-menopausal women, 15 weeks of progressive resistance weight training followed by maintenance of muscle mass increases over 6 months through a muscle mass maintenance weight training program (a total of 9 months of resistance training) will prevent increases in body fat % and body weight when compared to no-treatment controls. The feasibility of maintaining lean body mass increases from progressive
