A randomized, controlled, supervised, exercise trial in young overweight men and women: the Midwest Exercise Trial II (MET2)

We evaluated weight loss response to 16 months of supervised exercise (45 min/day, 5 days/week, 75% heart-rate-reserve) in sedentary, overweight/obese participants without energy restriction in the Midwest Exercise Trial (MET1). Results indicated men lost weight, women did not. The gender differences were associated with differences in the energy expenditure of exercise (EEEx) (men=667±116; women=439±88 kcal/session) when exercise was prescribed by frequency, intensity and duration. MET2 is a randomized control trial designed and powered to examine differences in weight loss and gender in response to EEEx for men and women of 400 or 600 kcal/session, 5 days/week, for 10 months without energy restriction. One hundred forty-one participants will be randomized to 1 of 2 exercise groups or a non-exercise control. EEEx will be verified by indirect calorimetry monthly during the intervention. This study will evaluate: (1) the weight change response to two levels of EEEx versus non-exercise control; (2) gender differences in weight response to two levels of EEEx; (3) potential compensatory changes in energy intake and/or daily physical activity that may explain the observed weight changes. Results from this study may impact how exercise is prescribed for weight loss and prevention of weight regain and may clarify if men and women differ in response to exercise.