Comparison of Two Diet and Exercise Approaches on Weight Loss and Health Outcomes in Women

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of following either the Curves® Fitness and Weight Management Plan or the Weight Watchers® Momentum™ Plan on body composition and markers of health and fitness in previously sedentary obese women. Fifty-one women (age 35±8 yrs; height 163±7 cm; weight 90±1 kg; BMI 34±5 kg/m2; 47±7% body fat) were randomized to participate in the Curves® (C) or Weight Watchers® (W) weight loss programs for 16-wks. Participants in the C group (n=24) followed a 1,200 kcal/d diet for 1-wk; 1,500 kcal/d diet for 3 wks (~30%:45% CHO:PRO); and 2,000 kcals/d for 2-wks (45:30) and repeated this diet while participating in a supervised Curves® with Zumba program 3-d-wk. Remaining subjects (n=27) followed the W point-based diet program, received weekly group counseling, and were encouraged to exercise. Body composition, anthropometrics, resting energy expenditure (REE), lipid biomarkers, and hormone concentrations were assessed at 0, 4, 10, and 16 weeks. Maximal cardiopulmonary exercise capacity and upper and lower body isotonic strength and endurance were assessed at 0 and 16 weeks. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance for repeated measures. MANOVA analysis of body composition data revealed overall time (Wilks’ Lamda p=0.001) and time by diet effects (Wilks’ Lamda p=0.003). Subjects in both groups lost a similar amount of total mass (C -2.4±2.0, -4.1±3.4, -5.1±3.9; W -2.3±2.3, -4.5±3.0, -5.5±4.6 kg, p=0.78). However, subjects in the C group tended to have a greater reduction in percent body fat (C -3.3±5.2, -3.2±4.6, -4.7±5.4; W 0.6±6.7, -0.6±8.3, -1.4±8.1%, p=0.10) and body fat mass (C -3.9±5.5, -4.6±5.3, -6.4±5.9; W -0.4±5.7, -2.1±6.7, -2.9±7.8 kg, p=0.09), while maintaining FFM (C 1.5±4.3, 0.52±3.7, 1.3±4.0; W -1.8±5.4, -2.4±5.8, -2.5±5.1, p=0.01). While both groups had increases cardiovascular fitness, the C group experienced improvements in upper body muscular endurance (C 1.4±3.9; W -1.2±2.4 repetitions, p=0.006). Both groups experienced improvements in lipid biomarkers; however, only the C group experienced a moderate increase in HDL-c. Results indicate that participants following the C program experienced more favorable changes in body composition and markers of fitness and health than participants in the W program