Exercise is key to strength and function in older women
On their own, exercise and eating higher protein diets are known to help people lose weight and increase strength. But combining both strategies doesn’t necessarily magnify their effects.
That’s according to a new University of Georgia study that examined the impact of a high-protein weight loss diet and exercise on women between the ages of 65 and 80.
The study revealed that while exercise during weight loss is critical to preserving muscle strength and function, a higher protein diet when combined with exercise does not appear to result in any added benefits to body composition and muscle strength in overweight older women.
“Overweight and obese women and women in general are at a higher risk than men for physical disability with advancing age,” said principal investigator Ellen Evans, who serves as associate dean for research and graduate education and professor in the Department of Kinesiology. “If older adults lose weight, especially too quickly or if they focus only on reducing calorie intake, they are going to reduce their risk of obesity, but at the same time, they’re going to increase their risk of osteoporosis and sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass), which can be problematic for older adults.”