Eating right, strength training and minimal or no cardio?

Question

Does anyone know real information on the idea behind losing weight by eating a healthy diet, watching caloric intake and an excersize program that consists of strength training and minimal or no cardio?

I ask because I normally think of a weight loss plan that includes more cardio than strength training. I wonder if there is good science behind this idea.

How does this idea work?

Serious answers only, please.

Answer 1

Weight loss is big business

Remember that health clubs, personal trainers, and equipment manufacturers have a vested financial interest in tying weight loss to strength training.

Since you don't need them or their equipment to go out for a run or a bike ride, any advice or data you get from those sources is going to show strength training in a favorable light.

Lifting is important to overal fitness, and yes, muscle requires more calories than fat, but the numbers are small. You would have to put on a LOT of muscle mass to have a significant effect. Going out for a run wins going away in the calorie burn derby.

You also have to consider that the most important muscle in your body is your heart.

Answer 2

I am not aware of any scientific study that has looked at weight loss, healthy eating and strength training and then divided groups (and compared them) into cardio vs. no cardio. I would be interested to know if there have been any studies like this.

Answer 3

I think the theory behind the strength training with little cardio is that muscle burns more calories than fat, so if one had more muscle, they'd burn more calories.

How true it is, I don't know.