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Resistance training is an established method to increase muscle mass and strength, but for Americans who are short on time aerobic exercise may be a more strategic option. Leslie H. Willis, from Duke University Medical Center (North Carolina, USA), and colleagues enrolled 234 previously sedentary overweight or obese men and women, ages 18 to 70 years, in one of three eight-month supervised protocols: aerobic training (AT), resistance training (RT), or a combination (AT/RT). Of the total, 119 participants completed the trials and had complete data for the variables of interest in the article. Those assigned to aerobic training exercised vigorously, at about 70-85% of maximum heart rate. They exercise approximately 45 minutes three days per week throughout the study period. Individuals assigned to resistance training also exercised three days a week, completing three sets of 8-12 reps on eight resistance machines that targeted all major muscle groups. Resistance was increased throughout the study to maintain a steady level of challenge as the participants gained strength. Individuals who were assigned to AT/RT performed all the exercises assigned to both AT and RT groups. At the end of study each enrollee was assessed for weight, body composition, waist circumference, cardiopulmonary fitness and strength compared to their baseline. The researchers found that the groups assigned to aerobic training and aerobic plus resistance training lost more weight than those that did resistance training only. In fact, those who did resistance training only actually gained weight due to an increase in lean body mass. Fat mass and waist circumference significantly decreased in the AT and AT/RT groups, but were not altered in RT. However, measures of lean body mass significantly increased in RT and AT/RT, but not in AT. The findings suggest that aerobic exercise is more effective in reducing these measures. Writing that: “[To balance] time commitments against health benefits, it appears that [aerobic training] is the optimal mode of exercise for reducing fat mass and body mass, while a program including [resistance training] is needed for increasing lean mass in middle-aged, overweight/obese individuals.” Leslie H. Willis, Cris A. Slentz, Lori A. Bateman, A. Tamlyn Shields, Lucy W. Piner, William E. Kraus, et al. “Effects of aerobic and/or resistance training on body mass and fat mass in overweight or obese adults.” J Appl Physiol., December 15, 2012, 113:1831-1837.
World Congress on Anti-Aging Medicine & Regenerative Biomedical Technologies Showcases Innovations in Clinical Aging Intervention:
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#103 - Is the Bed to Blame?
The bed is not merely a home furnishing, it is an integral part of your sleep environment:
If you share a bed, both of you may sleep best in a king-size bed, particularly if your bed partner is prone to tossing and turning or has restless leg syndrome. Two adults in a double- or queen- size bed have as much horizontal space as a baby does in a crib! A properly selected and maintained mattress provides positive resistance to the sleeper’s body weight. Goldilocks was right: A mattress that is too firm will not provide even body support, tending instead to support only at the body’s heaviest parts (shoulders and hips). A mattress that is too soft will not keep the spine in proper alignment with the rest of the body. As a result, your muscles will work throughout the night to straighten the spine, leading to aches and pains in the morning. Rotate your mattress and turn it over every 2 to 3 months to reduce sags, imprints, bumps, and valleys. The foundation part of the bed (box spring) extends the life of the mattress. It absorbs the major portion of the stress and weight placed on the sleep surface. |
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