Effects of energy restriction and exercise on skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in women as measured by magnetic resonance imaging
Abstract
The effects of energy restriction alone (diet alone, DO) and energy restriction combined with endurance exercise (diet and exercise, DE) on lean tissue (LT), skeletal muscle (SM), and adipose tissue (AT) were evaluated in 24 obese women (DO, n = 12; DE, n = 12). The prescribed diet created an estimated daily deficit of 4.19 MJ (1000 kcal). LT, SM, and AT were measured by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The weight loss observed for the DO group (-10.0 +/- 4.0 kg) was not significantly different from that of the DE group (-11.7 +/- 3.0 kg). However, the composition of the weight loss was significantly different between groups because the DE group lost significantly greater (P = 0.05) quantities of AT (-11.3 +/- 3.8 L) than the DO group (-8.3 +/- 3.6 L). Furthermore, whereas LT measured by MRI was maintained in the DE group, a modest (approximately 4%) but significant (P < 0.01) reduction in LT was observed in the DO group. Similarly, measurement of SM by MRI in the appendicular region revealed a preservation of SM in the DE group, but a significant (P < 0.01) reduction in the DO group. Maximal oxygen consumption (L) was significantly improved (approximately 9%) in the DE group (P < 0.01). These findings provide evidence that the combination of energy restriction and exercise result in a greater reduction of AT and preservation of LT and SM compared with energy restriction alone.
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MRI studies have demonstrated the ability of both endurance and resistance exercise to preserve skeletal muscle tissue in adult females with obesity undergoing weight loss with energy deficits of approximately 1000 kcal/day.
“Magnetic resonance imaging studies have also demonstrated the ability of both endurance and resistance exercise to preserve skeletal muscle tissue in adult females with obesity undergoing weight loss with energy deficits of approximately 1000 kcal·day−1.17,18”
From Preservation of lean soft tissue during weight loss induced by GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists: A case series (2025) · cites this paper as [17]
Research specifically examining skeletal muscle mass, as estimated by MRI or computed tomography, has supported a protective effect both of endurance and resistance exercise during energy restriction.
“research specifically examining skeletal muscle mass, as estimated by MRI or computed tomography, has also supported a protective effect both of endurance and resistance exercise during energy restriction [28, 38-40].”
From Fundamental Body Composition Principles Provide Context for Fat-Free and Skeletal Muscle Loss With GLP-1 RA Treatments (2024) · cites this paper as [38]
In that study, loss of whole-body lean volume, estimated by MRI, averaged 14% in the diet-only group, but was only 2% in the group performing exercise.
“the loss of whole-body lean volume, estimated by MRI, averaged 14% in the diet-only group, but was only 2% in the group performing exercise.”
From Fundamental Body Composition Principles Provide Context for Fat-Free and Skeletal Muscle Loss With GLP-1 RA Treatments (2024) · cites this paper as [38]
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Tinsley, G. M., & Heymsfield, S. B. (2024) · Journal of the Endocrine Society · doi:10.1210/jendso/bvae164 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
“In addition to FFM preservation, research specifically examining skeletal muscle mass, as estimated by MRI or computed tomography, has also supported a protective effect both of endurance and resistance exercise during energy restriction [28, 38-40].”
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“17,18 However, a study directly comparing different modalities of exercise found that exercise programs including resistance training may be particularly effective at reducing the loss of thigh skeletal muscle volume during weight loss.”
- Authors
- Ross, R., Pedwell, H., & Rissanen, J.
- Affiliations
- Queen's University (CA)
- ORCID
- Ross, R
- Venue
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1995-06
- Volume
- 61
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1179-1185
- ISSN
- 0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1940898336
- Cited by
- 103
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 4 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Body Composition Measurement Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Keywords
- caloric restriction, endurance exercise, obesity, women, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, lean tissue, weight loss, fat loss, muscle mass preservation, VO2max, diet and exercise combination
- MeSH terms
- Adipose Tissue, Adult, Anthropometry, Energy Intake, Diet, Reducing, Energy Metabolism, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Middle Aged, Reproducibility of Results, Weight Loss, Exercise, Muscle, Skeletal
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