Does the energy expenditure associated with training influence reduced adiposity in practitioners of exercise? Data from a cross-sectional population study.

Men had significantly higher energy expenditure during training sessions compared to women.

• Men's mean energy expenditure was 632.5 kcal (95% CI: 560.0–704.5)
• Women's mean energy expenditure was 280.4 kcal (95% CI: 253.9–306.8)
• The sample consisted of 335 individuals (138 males) aged 47.9 ± 12.7 years
• Data were collected on exercise frequency, intensity, and duration alongside body composition measures

Greater training energy expenditure was inversely correlated with multiple adiposity markers in both sexes.

• Energy expenditure was inversely correlated with body mass index (r = -0.23; p < 0.05)
• Energy expenditure was inversely correlated with body fat percentage (r = -0.53; p < 0.05)
• Energy expenditure was inversely correlated with fat mass (r = -0.37; p < 0.05)
• Energy expenditure was inversely correlated with waist-to-hip ratio (r = -0.31; p < 0.05)
• Energy expenditure was inversely correlated with visceral fat (r = -0.38; p < 0.05)

After accounting for confounding factors, significant correlations between energy expenditure and body composition differed by sex.

• Among men, significant correlations persisted for most adiposity markers except skeletal muscle mass
• Among women, only body fat percentage and skeletal muscle mass correlations remained significant after controlling for confounders
• This suggests sex moderates the relationship between training energy expenditure and body composition

Linear regression analysis identified a specific energy expenditure threshold needed to achieve a body fat percentage below 20%.

• Achieving BF% below 20% required expending 9.07 kcal/kg per training session across seven weekly sessions
• The regression model explained 33% of the variance in BF% (r² = 0.33)
• Only 15.2% of the 335 participants met this energy expenditure demand
• This indicates the majority of exercising individuals in the sample trained at insufficient loads to achieve healthy body fat levels

Low training load, reflected by inadequate energy expenditure, is a plausible explanation for the modest weight loss effects observed in physical training meta-analyses.

• The authors cite prior meta-analyses showing modest weight loss with physical training
• The study was designed as a cross-sectional investigation to examine whether training load parameters correlate with body composition
• The finding that only 15.2% of exercisers met the energy expenditure threshold supports low training load as an underinvestigated cause of limited fat loss

Adequate maintenance of body fat levels appears to be dependent on high energy expenditure during training without significant reliance on other influencing factors.

• The authors concluded that energy expenditure during training was the primary factor associated with adiposity outcomes
• Other influencing factors did not show significant independent contributions in the analysis
• This conclusion was drawn from both correlation and linear regression analyses across the full sample of 335 participants