For Weight Loss, Aerobic Exercise Plus Resistance Training Is The Best Combination

Not all exercise is created equal, according to recent findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics.

Canadian researchers found that overweight teens could boost their weight loss goals with certain exercise regimens.

"Adolescents who are overweight are typically advised to exercise more, but there is limited evidence on what type of exercise is best in order to lose fat," said study author researcher Dr. Ron Sigal of the University of Calgary's Institute for Public Health and Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, in a news release.

For the study, researchers placed 304 Canadian participants into one of four groups. One group performed resistance training with machine and free weights while the second group performed only aerobic exercise on treadmills or stationary bikes. The third group had a combination of aerobic and resistance training while the fourth group had no exercise training.

Findings revealed that while all types of exercise were beneficial, the greatest amount of fat-loss could be seen in the groups who combined aerobic and resistance training together.

"Remarkably, among participants who completed at least 70 per cent of the prescribed exercise sessions, waist circumference decreased close to seven centimeters in those randomized to combined aerobic plus resistance exercise, versus about four centimeters in those randomized to do just one type of exercise, with no change in those randomized to diet alone."