Weight Training during Caloric Restriction Enhances Lean Body Weight Maintenance

Published:  05/18/2018

Weight training while restricting calories preserves muscle. In one study, dieting while weight training resulted in lean mass (muscle) gained, most fat lost and almost the most weight.

Keep in mind that the "weight training and dieting" group put on muscle weight which is why they didn't lose as much total weight as the diet only group. But it's a benefit to have more muscle.

The diet/caloric restriction only group lost muscle and didn't lose as much fat as the "weight training and dieting" group.

  Control Diet Weight Training Weight Training & Diet
Weight (kg) -0.38 -4.47 0.45 -3.89
Fat (kg) -0.07 -3.56 -0.62 -4.32
Lean mass (kg) -0.31 -0.91 +1.07 +0.43

(This was an 8 week program, 40 obese women)

Ballor, D.L., Katch, V.L., Becque, M.D., Marks, C.R., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 47(1): 19-25, 1988.


Active Nutrition is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising revenues by advertising and linking to Amazon. If you click on one of my recommended item links and then place an order through Amazon, I receive a small commission on that sale, at no extra expense to you of course. This is a way to support me and my work every time you shop at no cost to you.

Connect with Maria