Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Gender-related changes in body composition, muscle strength and power output after a short-term multidisciplinary weight loss intervention in morbid obesity

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Obese men and women have notably different body composition, which contributes to a different functional motor impairment, but it is unknown whether they respond differently to the same intervention for body weight (BW) reduction and motor capability improvement. The aim of this investigation was to compare changes in body composition, strength production and power output observed in severely obese men and women after a BW reduction intervention, and to test the hypothesis that changes in body composition may be related to changes in motor functionality. Ninety-five obese men and women of the same age (29.3±7.0 SD yr) and body mass index (41.2±4.4 kg/m2) participated in a short-term (3 week) mass reduction program (5 days/week) entailing exercise (aerobic and strength training) and energy-restricted diet. BW and body composition, maximum voluntary total isotonic strength (St), and maximum leg power output (Ẇ) were evaluated before and after the program. After the intervention, BW decreased significantly in both men and women, but males lost a significantly higher amount of their initial BW than females (5.12±0.91 vs 4.27±1.42%, p<0.01). In men the BW loss was composed by a similar amount of fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM), whereas women lost FM almost entirely. Both men and women significantly improved St after the intervention, but no difference in improvement was detected between genders, while Ẇ increased significantly in females (p<0.001), and no change was detected in males, although W per unit BW and FFM increased significantly in both genders (p<0.05t-0.001). In spite of the positive correlation of St and Ẇ with FFM (p<0.001), there was no detectable relation between the changes in body composition and those in motor performance, the improvement in St and Ẇ being better attributable to factors other than muscle mass change. The present diet/exercise intervention induced significant effects on BW changes and composition as well as on St and Ẇ, with a different impact in males and females.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Visscher TLS, Seidell JC. The public health impact of obesity. Annu Rev Public Health 2001, 22: 355–75.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Flegal KM. The obesity epidemic in children and adults: current evidence and research issues. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999, 31: S509–14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Larsson U, Karlsson J, Sullivan M. Impact of overweight and obesity on healthrelated quality of life — a Swedish population study. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2002, 26: 417–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Doll HA, Petersen SEK, Stewart-Brown SL. Obesity and physical and emotional well-being: association between body mass index, chronic illness, and the physical and mental components of the SF-36 questionnaire. Obes Res 2000,8: 160–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Hulens M, Vansant G, Lysens R, Claessens AL, Muls E. Exercise capacity in lean versus obese women. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2001, 11: 305–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Lafortuna CL, Fumagalli E, Vangeli V, Sartorio A. Lower limb alactic anaerobic power output assessed with different techniques in morbid obesity. J Endocrinol Invest 2002, 25: 134–41.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Sartorio A, Fontana P, Trecate L, Lafortuna CL. Short-term changes of fatigability and muscle performance in severe obese patients after an integrated body mass reduction program. Diabetes Nutr Metab 2003, 16: 88–93.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Evers Larsson U, Mattsson E. Functional limitations linked to high body mass index, age and current pain in obese women. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2001, 25: 893–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Sartorio A, Proietti M, Marinone PG, Agosti F, Adorni F, Lafortuna CL. Influence of gender, age and BMI on lower limb muscular power output in a large population of obese men and women. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2004, 28: 91–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Lafortuna CL, Agosti F, Marinone PG, Marazzi N, Sartorio A. The relationship between body composition and muscle power output in men and women with obesity, J Endocrinol Invest 2004, 27: 854–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Lafortuna CL, Maffiuletti NA, Agosti F, Sartorio A. Gender variations of body composition, muscle strength and power output in morbid obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2005, 29: 833–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Sartorio A, Lafortuna CL, Agosti F, Proietti M, Maffiuletti NA. Elderly obese women display the greatest improvement in stair climbing performance after a 3-wk body mass reduction program. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2004, 28: 1097–104.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Gray DS, Bray GA, Gemayel N, Kaplan K. Effects of obesity on bioelectrical impedance. Am J Clin Nutr 1989, 50: 255–60.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Mayhew JL, Prinster JL, Ware JS, Zimmer DL, Arabas JR, Bemben MG. Muscular endurance repetitions to predict bench press strength in men of different training levels. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 1995, 35: 108–13.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Bosco C, Luhtanen P, Komi PV. A simple method for measurement of mechanical power in jumping. Eur J Appl Physiol 1983, 50: 273–82.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Sartorio A, Narici MV, Fumagalli E, Faglia G, Lafortuna CL. Aerobic and anaerobic performance before and after a short-term body mass reduction program in obese subjects. Diab Nutr Metab 2001, 14: 51–7.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Lafortuna CL, Resnik M, Galvani C, Sartorio A. Effects of non-specific vs individualized exercise training protocols on aerobic, anaerobic and strength performance in severely obese subjects during a short-term body mass reduction program. J Endocrinol Invest 2003, 26: 197–205.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Zar JH. Biostatistical analysis. Englewood Cliff. NJ: Prentice-Hall International Editions. 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Ballor DL, Keesey RE. A meta-analysis of the factors affecting exercise-induced changes in body mass, fat mass and fat-free mass in males and females. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1999, 15: 717–26.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Pietrobelli A, Heymsfield SB. Establishing body composition in obesity. J Endocrinol Invest 2002, 25: 884–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Body Composition Measurement: Proceedings of a National Institutes of Health Technology Assessment Conference. Bethesda, Maryland, December 12–14, 1994. Am J Clin Nutr 1996, 64: 387–532.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Dengel DR, Hagberg JM, Coon PJ, Drinkwater DT, Goldberg AP. Effects of weight loss by diet alone or combined with aerobic exercise on body composition in older obese men. Metabolism 1994, 43: 867–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Ross R, Rissanen J, Pedwell H, Clifford J, Shragge P. Influence of diet and exercise on skeletal muscle and visceral adipose tissue in men. J Appl Physiol 1996, 81: 2445–55.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Kraemer WJ, Volek JS, Clark KL, et al. Influence of exercise training on physiological and performance changes with weight loss in men. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999, 31: 1320–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Ross R, Pedwell H, Rissanen J. Effects of energy restriction and exercise on skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in women as measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Am J Clin Nutr 1995, 61: 1179–85.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Keim NL, Barbieri TF, Van Loan MD, Anderson BL. Energy expenditure and physical performance in overweight women: response to training with and without caloric restriction. Metabolism 1990, 39: 651–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Jones DA, Rutherford OM. Human muscle strength training: the effects of three different regimens and the nature of the resultant changes. J Physiol 1987, 391: 1–11.

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Narici MV, Roi GS, Landoni L, Minetti AE, Cerretelli P. Changes in force, cross-sectional area and neural activation during strength training and detraining of the human quadriceps. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1989, 59: 310–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Rutherford OM, Jones DA. The role of learning and coordination in strength training. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1986, 55: 100–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Pronk NP, Donnelly JE, Pronk SJ. Strength changes induced by extreme dieting and exercise in severely obese females. J Am Coll Nutr 1992, 11: 152–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Duche P, Ducher G, Lazzer S, Dore E, Tailhardat M, Bedu M. Peak power in obese and nonobese adolescents: effects of gender and braking force. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002, 34: 2072–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Bouchard C, Rankinen T. Individual differences in response to regular physical activity. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2001, 33 (Suppl):S446–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Winters-Stone KM, Snow CM. Musculoskeletal response to exercise is greatest in women with low initial values. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2003, 35: 1691–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Margetts BM, Rogers E, Widhal K, Remaut de Winter AM, Zunft HJ. Relationship between attitudes to health, body weight and physical activity and level of physical activity in a nationally representative sample in the European Union. Public Health Nutr 1999, 2: 97–103.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Han TS, Tijhuis MA, Lean ME, Seidall JC. Quality of life in relation to overweight and body fat distribution. Am J Public Health 1998, 88: 1814–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 3rd Division of Metabolic Diseases, Italian Institute for Auxology, IRCCS, Piancavallo (VB)

    A. Sartorio

  2. Laboratory for Experimental Endocrinological Research, Italian Institute for Auxology, IRCCS, Milano

    A. Sartorio & F. Agosti

  3. Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, CNR, Segrate (MI), Italy

    C. L. Lafortuna MD

  4. INSERM/ERIT-M 0207 Motility-Plasticity, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Bourgogne, Dijon Cedex, France

    N. A. Maffiuletti

Authors
  1. A. Sartorio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. A. Maffiuletti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Agosti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. L. Lafortuna MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. L. Lafortuna MD.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sartorio, A., Maffiuletti, N.A., Agosti, F. et al. Gender-related changes in body composition, muscle strength and power output after a short-term multidisciplinary weight loss intervention in morbid obesity. J Endocrinol Invest 28, 494–501 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03347236

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03347236

Key-words

Search

Navigation