The objective of this article is to determine whether resistance training can conserve fat-free mass and resting energy expenditure under a diet-induced weight loss. In normal circumstances, fat-free mass is known to decrease under diet-induced weight loss of approximately 7kg or so. The decrease of fat-free mass is normally accompanied by a decrease in resting energy expenditure (Gary et at. 1045). This could be the reason why this research was conducted to determine the effect of exercise training as that of induced weight loss was known.
The article has traced the effects of resistance training on FFM and REE in its introduction section which shows that there was no particular research that had concise results. That possibly accelerated this research to be carried out. The introduction of this article is well written since it has explained why the researchers used African-American and European-American Women as their subjects. For instance, the introduction part has indicated that African-American women have a lower percentage of body fat and more lean tissue in their arms and legs than European-American women of similar age and BMI (1045). The introduction section helps the reader to understand why the research was conducted.
The methods and procedures used to conduct this research were comprehensive since they involved aerobic training, resistance training, and no exercise training (1046). The induced weight loss was randomized to ensure that the results obtained will help the researchers to draw their conclusions. Methods and procedures are well explained making it easier for the readers to understand how the research was conducted. All the details concerning the subjects which were used in this research are given. The authors of this article have described this section very well giving every detail of methods and procedures which were carried out in the experiment.
The results of the experiment are well analyzed using different types of analysis. Statistical analysis was used to display the quantitative data of the research and this will help the readers to comprehend the results without any assistance. Non-quantitative data results are described in a clear manner using layman language thus assisting readers to understand the essence of the experiment. The use of figures in the discussion section to illustrate the description of the results makes it easier to understand them. The article is well-referenced and the format employed is excellent as it allows free flow of ideas brought out in the research from the introduction section to discussion of the results.
The authors have employed simple language which makes it easier to understand the article though some terms are complex for someone who is not well conversant with the physiology field. The description of the experiment in simple language facilitates the understanding of the subject matter of the article. The arrangement of all the sections is well put from the abstract section to references. The abstract of this article explains everything and a reader does not necessarily require reading the whole article to understand why and how the experiment was carried out. The abstract section explains everything including the objective of the research, methods, and procedures used, results, and the discussion.
This article is well written and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the physiology field and in particular understanding whether resistance training can conserve fat-free mass and resting energy expenditure under a diet-induced weight loss. The article has explained very well how resistance training conserves FFM and REE irrespective of race.
Works Cited
Gary R. Hunter, Naula M. Byrne, Bovorn Sirikul, Jose R. Fernandez, Paul A. Zuckerman, Betty E. Darnell and Barbara A. Gower. “Resistance Training Conserves Fat-free Mass and Resting Energy Expenditure Following Weight Loss.” Obesity Journal (2008): 1045-1051. Print.