The purpose of this study is to determine whether following a Curves high protein/low fat diet (30% carbohydrate, 45% protein, 25% fat) for 30-days several times during 16 weeks of participating in the Curves fitness program promotes stepwise reductions in body weight, improvements in body composition and/or improvements in markers of fitness and health better than following the Weight Watchers Momentum Program for the same time period.
The Curves International fitness and weight loss program has become a very popular means of promoting health and fitness among women. The program involves a 30-minute circuit training program and a weight management program involving periods of moderate caloric restriction (1,200 to 1,600 calories per day) followed by short periods of higher caloric intake (2,600 calories per day). The program is designed to promote a gradual reduction in body fat while increasing strength and muscle mass/tone. Researchers in the Exercise and Sport Nutrition Lab at Texas A\&M University have conducted an extensive study on the effectiveness and safety of the Curves fitness and diet program. Results of this initial study have shown that the program promotes weight loss, improves markers of health, and improves fitness. The Weight Watchers program is another popular weight loss program. It provides a systematic approach to diet and exercise throughout the weight-loss process. Consequently we are interested in comparing the efficacy of both programs to one another. The purpose of this study is to determine whether following a Curves high protein/low fat diet (30% carbohydrate, 45% protein, 25% fat) for 30-days several times during 16 weeks of participating in the Curves fitness program promotes stepwise reductions in body weight, improvements in body composition and/or improvements in markers of fitness and health better than following the Weight Watchers Momentum Program for the same time period.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
120
The Curves Circuit consists performing 13 hydraulic resistance exercise machines that utilize bidirectional resistance that work all major muscle groups. These are interspersed with floor-based calisthenic exercises designed to maintain an elevated heart rate.
The Weight Watchers program encourages one to increase physical activity.
Body Composition: Body Weight
Changes in body weight (lbs. body weight) obtained via digital scale and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Body Composition: Fat Mass
Changes in body composition (lbs. fat mass) obtained via Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Body Composition: Lean Mass
Changes in body composition (lbs. lean mass) obtained via DXA and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Body Composition: Percent Body Fat
Changes in body composition (% body fat) obtained via DXA and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Energy Homeostasis: Resting Energy Expenditure (REE)
Changes in REE obtained via metabolic cart and expressed in absolute (kcal/d) and relative terms (kcals/kg/d) and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
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Muscular Strength: 1 Repetition Maximum (1 RM) Bench Press
Changes in bench press 1 Repetition Maximum (1RM) obtained from a bench press test and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 16 weeks
Muscular Strength: 1 Repetition Maximum (1 RM) Leg Press
Changes in leg press 1RM obtained from a leg press test and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 16 weeks
Muscular Endurance: 80% of 1 Repetition Maximum (1 RM) Bench Press Endurance Test
Changes in total repetitions at 80% of 1RM obtained from a bench press test and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 16 weeks
Muscular Endurance: 80% of 1 Repetition Maximum (1 RM) Leg Press Endurance Test
Changes in total repetitions at 80% of 1RM obtained from a leg press test and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 16 weeks
Lipid Panel: Cholesterol
Changes in cholesterol obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Lipid Panel: HDL Cholesterol
Changes in HDL cholesterol obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Lipid Panel: LDL Cholesterol
Changes in LDL cholesterol obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Lipid Panel: Triglycerides
Changes in triglycerides obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Lipid Panel: Cholesterol:HDL Ratio
Changes in cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP): Glucose
Changes in glucose obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Hormones: Insulin
Changes in insulin obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Hormones: Leptin
Changes in leptin obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR): Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance
Changes in HOMA-IR obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Hemodynamic Variable: Resting Heart Rate (HR)
Changes in resting heart rate (HR) obtained via a blood pressure meter and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Hemodynamic Variable: Resting Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP)
Changes in resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) obtained via a blood pressure meter and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Hemodynamic Variable: Resting Diastolic Blood Pressure (SBP)
Changes in resting diastolic blood pressure (DBP) obtained via a blood pressure meter and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Anthropometric Measures: Waist Circumference
Changes in waist circumference obtained via tape measure and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Anthropometric Measures: Hip Circumference
Changes in hip circumference obtained via tape measure and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Anthropometric Measures: Waist to Hip Ratio
Changes in the ratio of waist to hip (waist/hip circumference) analyzed with related anthropometric outcome measures via General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Exercise Capacity: Peak Exercise Capacity (VO2)
Changes in exercise capacity (VO2 max) obtained via a treadmill test and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 16 weeks
Exercise Capacity: Time to Peak Exercise Capacity (time to peak VO2)
Changes in exercise capacity (time to peak VO2 max) obtained via a treadmill test and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 16 weeks
Dietary Energy Intake: Total Caloric Intake (kcals/d)
Changes in caloric/energy intake (kcals/d) analyzed with related energy intake outcome measures via General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Dietary Energy Intake: Carbohydrate
Changes in dietary carbohydrate intake (g/d and g/kg/d) analyzed with related energy intake outcome measures via General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Dietary Energy Intake: Fat
Changes in dietary fat intake (g/d and g/kg/d) analyzed with related energy intake outcome measures via General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Dietary Energy Intake: Protein
Changes in dietary protein intake (g/d and g/kg/d) analyzed with related energy intake outcome measures via General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)
Time frame: Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks