The Claim

Resistance training performed three times per week for 13 weeks preserves fat-free mass during moderate energy restriction (500 kcal/day deficit) in overweight, postmenopausal women aged 68±1 years, reducing fat-free mass loss from 1.6 kg in sedentary individuals to 0.3 kg, despite similar total weight and fat mass loss.

Source: Resistance Training Preserves Fat‐free Mass Without Impacting Changes in Protein Metabolism After Weight Loss in Older Women

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
54score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
1 study reviewed
In plain English

If overweight women in their late 60s cut their daily calories by 500 and lift weights three times a week for 13 weeks, they keep more of their muscle compared to those who don’t exercise—even though both groups lose the same amount of overall weight and fat.

See the scientific wording

Resistance training performed three times per week for 13 weeks preserves fat-free mass during moderate energy restriction (500 kcal/day deficit) in overweight, postmenopausal women aged 68±1 years, reducing FFM loss from 1.6 kg in sedentary individuals to 0.3 kg, despite similar total weight and fat mass loss.

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Resistance Training Preserves Fat‐free Mass Without Impacting Changes in Protein Metabolism After Weight Loss in Older Women

    The study found that older women who did strength training three times a week while dieting lost much less muscle than those who didn’t train — even though both groups lost the same amount of total weight and fat. So yes, lifting weights helps keep muscle when losing weight.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.