Safety and efficacy evaluation of a fitness club weight-loss program

It is well documented that excess weight is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases, and, despite considerable expenditure of time, money, and effort, little or no progress has been made in reversing the trend toward increased weight. Although fitness and athletic clubs offer one potential for tackling this problem, few provide information about the efficacy of their weight-loss programs. There is general agreement that an efficacious weight-loss program should reduce body fat, maintain or increase fat-free mass (FFM), and lower total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This study was designed to compare changes in body composition and serum cholesterol associated with participation in a fitness club program (EXP) versus changes that occurred when participants pursued a program of their own choosing (CTL). The EXP group participated in the Bally's Total Fitness program that included exercise, behavior modification, and dietary supplements. Although only small differences in body weight were noted between groups, participation in the EXP program led to significant (sixfold) reductions in fat mass, increases in FFM, and improvements in body composition. These data highlight the importance of using measures of body composition rather than scale weight in evaluating the efficacy of weight-loss programs. Additionally, the EXP group achieved significant reductions in total and LDL cholesterol, particularly among individuals with baseline total cholesterol levels above 200 micrograms/dL. It is also worth noting that respective cholesterol levels were maintained for participants with total cholesterol levels between 150 and 199 micrograms/dL and were increased for those with levels at or below 150 micrograms/dL.