The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of exercise and/or caloric restriction for 12 wk on body composition, maximal aerobic power (VO2max), and serum lipids and lipoproteins in overweight individuals. Forty-eight males and 48 females (means age 36.6 yr), 120 to 140% of ideal body weight, were randomly assigned to groups (N = 12 each) of diet-exercise (DE), diet (D), exercise (E), and sedentary control (C). The dietary regimen consisted of 1,200 kcal/d, while exercise consisted of 5 d/wk of 30 min of walk/running. For the males, body weight (BW) and fat weight loss in the DE group (-11.8 and 23%, respectively) were significantly greater than in the D group (-9.1 and -18%), with both groups significantly greater than for E and C. In the females, BW and fat weight loss for DE (-10.4 and -24%) were significantly greater than for D (-7.8 and -20%), with both groups significantly greater than E and C. Both DE and D males and females had a decrease in fat-free weight of -4.5 and -2.4%, respectively. In both sexes, the increase in VO2max/BW (ml/kg/min) in DE (25%) was significantly greater than for E (15%), D (11%), and C (0%), with differences between E and D nonsignificant. However, increases in absolute VO2max (l/min) and VO2max-fat-free weight (ml/kg/min) were similar (p > 0.05) for DE and E (14%) but significantly greater compared to D and C (2%).

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