Impact of resistance training intensity on body composition and nutritional intake among college women with overweight and obesity: a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among college women is a public health concern. This study examined the effects of different intensities of resistance training on body composition and nutritional intake in overweight and obese college women. Methods: A cluster-randomized controlled trial with a 12-week intervention included 72 participants, divided into low, moderate, and high-intensity resistance training groups, along with a control group. The 3-day food record and other standardized instruments measured the corresponding variables. Results: Post-test results showed a significant reduction in body fat percentage for the high-intensity group compared with the low-intensity ( Discussion: These findings suggest that high-intensity resistance training is most effective for improving body composition; both moderate- (especially) and high-intensity resistance training are the most influential in modifying nutritional intake; and high-intensity resistance training demonstrates the best correlation between changes in body composition and nutritional intake. Further research is required to address the contradictory result regarding body fat percentage compared to before, as well as to explore limitations related to population diversity, alternative exercise comparisons, rigorous dietary assessment methods, and underlying mechanisms. Systematic review registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05530629.