The effects of aerobic and resistance exercises in obese women

Objective: To compare the effects of aerobic and resistance exercise on weight, muscle strength, cardiovascular fitness, blood pressure and mood in obese women who were not on an energy-restricted diet.Design: Randomized, prospective, controlled trial.Setting: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital.Subjects: Sixty obese women were assigned to one of three groups: aerobic exercise (n=20), resistance exercise (n=20) and control group (n=20).Interventions: The aerobic exercise group performed both walking and leg cycle exercise with increasing duration and frequency. The resistance exercise group performed progressive weight-resistance exercises for the upper and lower body.Main outcome measures: Before and after a 12-week period, all subjects were evaluated by anthropometric measurement, rating of mood, cardiorespiratory capacity and maximum strength of trained muscles.Results: After a 12-week training period, subjects in the resistance group showed significant improvement in one-repetition maximum test of hip abductors (7.95 +/- 3.58 kg), quadriceps (14 +/- 7.18 kg), biceps (3.37 +/- 2.84 kg) and pectorals (8.75 +/- 5.09 kg) compared with those in the control group (P<0.001). VO2 max increased (0.51 +/- 0.40) and Beck Depression Scale scores decreased (-5.40 +/- 4.27)in the aerobic exercise group compared with the control group, significantly (P<0.001). Only in hip abductor muscle strength was there a significant increase in the resistance exercise group compared with the aerobic exercise group (P