Armen A. Gharibans1, Curtis L. Johnson1, Danchin D. Chen1, Dolores D. Guest2, Christie L. Ward3, Bhibha M. Das3, Ellen M. Evans3, John G. Georgiadis1
1Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States; 2Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States; 3Kinesiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to study microstructural changes in the thigh muscles of elderly, obese women before and after a diet or exercise intervention. Nineteen subjects underwent either a diet or a weight-stable exercise four-month program. Both weight loss and exercise regimens alter muscle microstructure and modify various DTI measures, but exercise impacts muscle quality more than weight loss.