The impact of strength training on the changes in one's physique and resting energy expenditure

Background and Purpose: The aim of this research is to determine the way in which the strength training affects the changes in one's physique and resting energy expenditure. Materials and Methods: 16 sedentary subjects completed strength training for seven weeks, 3 training/week. The examinee's physique has been analyzed through bioelectrical impedance method (BIA) before and after the seven-week cycle. The variables compared are BW (body weight), WHR (waist-hip ratio), PBF (percent of body fat) and BMR (basal metabolic rate). The differences between the initial and final values have been tested by paired t-test. The correlations between those differences have been expressed by the Pearson correlation coefficient. The level of statistical significance is p= 0, 05. Results: The results indicate that the strength training, even in relatively restricted time period, influences the changes in person's physique, as well as the changes in resting energy expenditure. The mean difference for BMR (p=0.0036), WHR (p=0,022), PBF(p=0,0184) and BW (p=0.0275) have been established for the entire sample. For the males differences were found for BMR (p=0,002), PBF (p=0,0417) and BW (p=0.0280), but no significant change in WHR. No statistically significant changes were found in female group. Correlation was found for differences in results for BMR vs BW r=0.698 (p=0.003), BMR vs WHR r=-0.578 (p=0.019), and PBF vs WHR r=0,671 (p=0,004). Conclusions: The overall changes in one's physique and energy expenditure indicate that the strength training needs to be one of the crucial factors in physical activity, aimed at the improvement of person's health.