The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a weight-loss program in obese women. Sixty-seven subjects, aged 37.1±8.7 years, joined in the program that comprised diet and exercise prescription. The exercise prescription consisted of a 60-min aerobic dance (2d/wk) and self-selected, unsupervised aerobic exercise. The duration of this program was 3 months. As a result, body mass and % fat significantly decreased from 61.9±8.4 to 59.1±8.3kg and from 30.7±7.5 to 26.6±7.0% (P<0.05), respectively. Fat-free mass (FFM) remained essentially unchanged (42.6±4.2vs. 43.0±3.7kg). About 10% of all subjects lost FFM by more than 2kg, and accordingly, their energy yield was not enough to maintain FFM. Among the subjects who successfully reduced excess fat and maintained FFM no change in energy yield and redution in upper body fat were found. Conversely, the subjects who could not maintain FFM lost lean tissue in lower limbs. It is suggested that our weight-loss program with exercise is useful in improving body composition and diet ingestion, and that particularly aerobic dance is considered available for reducing excess fat.
