Background/Purpose: As the human body ages, individuals experience an increase in fat mass and a decrease in lean tissue mass. This increase in fat mass, specifically android fat, has been linked to an increased risk in cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study is to compare the changes in android body fat percentage between an active control group and participants of a resistance training program. The resistance training program was implemented over a six month period and included women over the age of 75 years old.
Method: Participants (n = 27) completed a twice a week total body resistance training program or participated in an active control which performed the same total body exercises with no external resistance. Android fat was measured utilizing a Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) machine for each participant at baseline and following six months of training.
Analysis/Results: Data was analyzed using a repeated measures ANOVA with a significant group by time interaction (F = 4.38, p =.047) being observed. A meaningful change in android percent fat was discovered with a decrease of approximately two percent from baseline (m = 47.4% ± 11.89) to the six month mark (m = 45.9% ± 12.79). Participants in the active control group displayed a non-significant increase in android body fat percentage.
Conclusions: From these results the authors determined that individuals who participated in the resistance training program saw improvements in android body fat percentage which could help mitigate their cardiovascular risk factors associated with age.