The effects of a home-based resistance training programme on body composition and muscle function during weight loss in people living with overweight or obesity: a randomised controlled pilot trial

Abstract Background Obesity continues to grow as a public health concern and although dietary interventions can be effective at reducing body mass and improving cardiovascular risk factors, they also result in undesirable losses of lean tissue. The aim of this randomised controlled pilot trial was t...

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Main Authors: Ahmad Binmahfoz, Lynsey Johnston, Emma Dunning, Cindy M. Gray, Stuart R. Gray
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:Nutrition & Metabolism
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-025-00986-1
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author Ahmad Binmahfoz
Lynsey Johnston
Emma Dunning
Cindy M. Gray
Stuart R. Gray
author_facet Ahmad Binmahfoz
Lynsey Johnston
Emma Dunning
Cindy M. Gray
Stuart R. Gray
author_sort Ahmad Binmahfoz
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Obesity continues to grow as a public health concern and although dietary interventions can be effective at reducing body mass and improving cardiovascular risk factors, they also result in undesirable losses of lean tissue. The aim of this randomised controlled pilot trial was to investigate the effects of a home-based resistance training exercise programme on body composition and muscle function in people living with overweight or obesity undergoing dietary weight loss. Methods Participants (n = 48) from Glasgow were randomly assigned to either a diet-induced weight loss group (WL) or a diet plus home-based resistance training exercise group (RT + WL) for 12-weeks. Body composition, muscle strength, and physical function were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Results There was no effect of the resistance exercise training programme (all p > 0.05) on body composition including body mass index, total body mass, fat mass, fat free mass or muscle thickness during weight loss. However, the resistance training group showed improvements in muscle and physical function compared to the weight loss only group, resulting in higher grip strength (RT + WL: Δ2.65, 95% CI: 0.44, 4.86; WL: Δ-0.26, 95% CI: -2.04, 1.51:p = 0.046), maximal voluntary contraction force (RT + WL:Δ23.61, 95% CI: 3.39, 43.84 WL: Δ-11.95, 95% CI: -35.37, 11.48;p = 0.019), and sit-to-stand test scores (RT + WL:Δ5.9, 95% CI: 4.27, 7.53 WL: Δ1.47, 95% CI: 0.13, 2.82; p < 0.001). Conclusions These findings suggest that incorporating home-based resistance training into weight loss programmes can preserve, or even enhance, muscle function without negatively impacting the effectiveness of dietary weight loss interventions, highlighting its potential to mitigate muscle function losses during weight loss in people living with overweight or obese. Trial registration Name of the registry: ClinicalTrials.gov. The registration number: NCT05702840. Date of Registry: 18/01/2023. The registration title: EXerCise wEight Loss (EXCEL).
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spelling doaj-art-8699364eb3ee47aa88a9c05f3ecaacb42025-08-20T03:04:26ZengBMCNutrition & Metabolism1743-70752025-08-0122111110.1186/s12986-025-00986-1The effects of a home-based resistance training programme on body composition and muscle function during weight loss in people living with overweight or obesity: a randomised controlled pilot trialAhmad Binmahfoz0Lynsey Johnston1Emma Dunning2Cindy M. Gray3Stuart R. Gray4School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, University of GlasgowSchool of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, University of GlasgowSchool of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, University of GlasgowSchool of Social and Political Sciences, University of GlasgowSchool of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, University of GlasgowAbstract Background Obesity continues to grow as a public health concern and although dietary interventions can be effective at reducing body mass and improving cardiovascular risk factors, they also result in undesirable losses of lean tissue. The aim of this randomised controlled pilot trial was to investigate the effects of a home-based resistance training exercise programme on body composition and muscle function in people living with overweight or obesity undergoing dietary weight loss. Methods Participants (n = 48) from Glasgow were randomly assigned to either a diet-induced weight loss group (WL) or a diet plus home-based resistance training exercise group (RT + WL) for 12-weeks. Body composition, muscle strength, and physical function were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Results There was no effect of the resistance exercise training programme (all p > 0.05) on body composition including body mass index, total body mass, fat mass, fat free mass or muscle thickness during weight loss. However, the resistance training group showed improvements in muscle and physical function compared to the weight loss only group, resulting in higher grip strength (RT + WL: Δ2.65, 95% CI: 0.44, 4.86; WL: Δ-0.26, 95% CI: -2.04, 1.51:p = 0.046), maximal voluntary contraction force (RT + WL:Δ23.61, 95% CI: 3.39, 43.84 WL: Δ-11.95, 95% CI: -35.37, 11.48;p = 0.019), and sit-to-stand test scores (RT + WL:Δ5.9, 95% CI: 4.27, 7.53 WL: Δ1.47, 95% CI: 0.13, 2.82; p < 0.001). Conclusions These findings suggest that incorporating home-based resistance training into weight loss programmes can preserve, or even enhance, muscle function without negatively impacting the effectiveness of dietary weight loss interventions, highlighting its potential to mitigate muscle function losses during weight loss in people living with overweight or obese. Trial registration Name of the registry: ClinicalTrials.gov. The registration number: NCT05702840. Date of Registry: 18/01/2023. The registration title: EXerCise wEight Loss (EXCEL).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-025-00986-1ObesityOverweightResistance exerciseWeight loss
spellingShingle Ahmad Binmahfoz
Lynsey Johnston
Emma Dunning
Cindy M. Gray
Stuart R. Gray
The effects of a home-based resistance training programme on body composition and muscle function during weight loss in people living with overweight or obesity: a randomised controlled pilot trial
Nutrition & Metabolism
Obesity
Overweight
Resistance exercise
Weight loss
title The effects of a home-based resistance training programme on body composition and muscle function during weight loss in people living with overweight or obesity: a randomised controlled pilot trial
title_full The effects of a home-based resistance training programme on body composition and muscle function during weight loss in people living with overweight or obesity: a randomised controlled pilot trial
title_fullStr The effects of a home-based resistance training programme on body composition and muscle function during weight loss in people living with overweight or obesity: a randomised controlled pilot trial
title_full_unstemmed The effects of a home-based resistance training programme on body composition and muscle function during weight loss in people living with overweight or obesity: a randomised controlled pilot trial
title_short The effects of a home-based resistance training programme on body composition and muscle function during weight loss in people living with overweight or obesity: a randomised controlled pilot trial
title_sort effects of a home based resistance training programme on body composition and muscle function during weight loss in people living with overweight or obesity a randomised controlled pilot trial
topic Obesity
Overweight
Resistance exercise
Weight loss
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-025-00986-1
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