Effects of diet versus diet plus aerobic and resistance exercise on metabolic syndrome in obese young men.

backgroundDiet and physical activity are the most commonly recommended strategies for preventing and treating metabolic syndrome (MetS). This randomized trial aims to examine the effectiveness of a weight reduction intervention based on caloric restriction, low-impact aerobics (LIA), and a resistance-training program in improving body composition, metabolic parameters and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among obese students diagnosed with MetS.

methodsIn all, 23 male participants, aged 19-24 years, were randomly introduced to a dieting program (the diet group, or DG = 09) or to dieting associated with a supervised physical training program (the diet plus training group, or DTG = 14). Before and after the intervention, the participants' anthropometric measures and cardiovascular disease risk factors were assessed.

resultsFollowing the diet-based intervention, significant improvements were noted in BMI (p = 0.39), PBF (p = 0.022) and LDL-c (p = 0.024). However, in response to the diet plus aerobic and resistance exercise intervention, obese participants had significant reductions in body weight (p = 0.018), WC (p = 0.042), BMI (p = 0.001), BFP (p < 0.001), DBP (p = 0.013), SBP (p = 0.016), TG level (p = 0.026), TC (p = 0.016), LDL-c (p = 0.001) and VLDL-c (p = 0.026). Notable differences were also observed between groups in terms of changes in WC (p = 0.003), BFP (p = 0.05), WHR (p = 0.029), FBG level (p = 0.022), TG level (p = 0.001), TC (p = 0.006), LDL-c (p = 0.014) and VLDL-c (p < 0.001).

conclusionDiet-based intervention could be an effective tool in reducing body composition and some MetS components. However, adding three weekly aerobic and resistance-training sessions to the dieting program may deliver better outcomes, particularly in terms of reducing WC, BFP, WHR, FBG level, TG level, TC, LDL-c, and VLDL-c.