AIM: This study compared the effect of different resistance training (RT) frequencies on total, android, gynoid and trunk body fat in overweight/obese older women. METHODS: Fifty-seven overweight/obese older women (66.9 +/- 5.3 years and 39.9 +/- 4.9% body fat) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a group performing RT twice a week (G2X), a group performing RT three times a week (G3X), or a non-exercise control group (CG). Both training groups performed the same 12-week RT program consisting of 8 exercises that trained all major muscle groups. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to assess body composition. RESULTS: After the intervention period, both G2X and G3X demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) reductions in adiposity compared to the CG for total body fat (G2X -1.7%, G3X -2.7%, CG +2.1%), android fat (G2X -6.2%, G3X -7.0%, CG +8.6%), gynoid fat (G2X -2.5%, G3X -2.9%, CG +1.0%), and trunk fat (G2X -2.5%, G3X -3.0%, CG +2.9%), with no significant differences between training groups. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that a low-volume 12-week RT program performed two or three times per week causes decreases in total and regional fat deposition with the greatest reductions occurring in the android region.

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