Correspondence (letter to the editor): Effectiveness in the Obese

It must certainly be agreed that progressive strength training of the largest possible muscle groups is essential in reducing sarcopenia and developing everyday motor skills (1). For several years now, progressive resistance training has also been used to prevent and treat excess weight and obesity in the elderly (2– 3). As well as increasing muscle strength, moderate-intensity strength training for overweight elderly persons can also increase fat-free body mass and reduce body fat percentage. There is also an increase in resting energy expenditure for 24 to 72 hours and an increase in fatty acid oxidation for up to 24 hours. As far as their individual fitness/health allows, overweight elderly persons should choose complex strength exercises that are as intense as possible: working on several muscle groups that are involved in a single movement (e.g. twice-weekly whole-body strength training) is more effective in reducing body fat than isolated exercises of individual muscle groups.

I am pleased to hear that high-intensity progressive strength training for the elderly is also being advocated. Recognition of the protective effect of intense muscle activation is not particularly new: the Jewish doctor Moses Maimonides (1138 to 1204) wrote the following in his work Hilchot Deot more than 800 years ago: “Whenever one exercises and works but is not satisfied with what one eats and one's bowels are healthy, one will not become sick and one's strength will increase, even if one eats bad foods. Anyone who does not exercise, or holds back from relieving himself, or who has hard bowels, will have a painful life and his strength will weaken, even if he eats good foods and looks after himself medicinally”.