Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and abdominal obesity (AbOb) increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Energy restriction (ER), highprotein (PRO) intake and high-intensity interval training (HIT) can independently improve MetS and AbOb. However, ER reduces metabolically active lean body mass (LBM) in addition to body fat (BF). Purpose: To determine the effects of a 16-wk ER diet with 2 levels of PRO (15% or 25% of energy), plus HIT, on MetS risk factors, AbOb, and body composition in women. Methods: Sedentary, premenopausal women (age=35±10y) with AbOb (waist circumference [WC] ≥80cm) were randomized to a 16-wk ER diet (-300kcals/d) with 15% (15PRO; n=17) or 25% (25PRO; n=18) of energy from PRO, plus 45min/d, 3d/wk HIT and 45min/d, 2d/wk continuous moderate-intensity exercise (CME) (-200kcals/d). Diet and physical activity (PA) were assessed using 4-d weighed food and PA records, respectively; diet and exercise compliance were assessed monthly with multiple-pass 24-h recalls and weekly tracking logs. Body weight (BW), WC, DXA-assessed body composition (BF [%], BF [kg], trunk fat [kg], and LBM [kg]), blood lipids (total cholesterol [TC], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], triglycerides [TG]), glycemic markers (fasting plasma glucose [FPG], insulin, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance [HOMA-IR], beta cell function [HOMA-%β] and insulin sensitivity [HOMA-%S]) and resting blood pressure (BP) (systolic BP [SBP]; diastolic BP [DBP]) were assessed pre/post-intervention. Repeated measures analysis of variance and two sample t-tests were used at analyze the date. Results are reported as means±standard deviations. Results: There were significant time, but not group, differences in BW (-5.1±2.6kg, p=0.0141), WC (- 7.3±3.6cm, p<0.0001), TC (-18.1±17.4mg/dL, p<0.0001), LDL-C (12.2± 16.2mg/dL, p<0.0001), TG (-25.3±56.2mg/dL, p=0.0064), insulin (-2.1±4.2mg/dL, p=0.0048), HOMA-IR (-0.2±0.5, p=0.0062), HOMA-%β (-12.1±35.2%, p=0.0497), HOMA-%S (28.5±78.4%, p=0.0357), and SBP (-3±9mmHg, p=0.214). There were significant group x time differences in DBP (15PRO=-5±8mmHg, 25PRO=- 2±8mmHg; p=0.0024). There were no time or group differences in FPG or HDLC. There were significant time, but not group, effects on changes in BW (-5.1kg± 2.6, p<0.0001), BF (-3.3±1.6%, p<0.0001), and LBM (-0.6kg±1.5, p=0.0283). The 15PRO group lost more absolute whole BF (-5.2kg vs. -3.9kg, p=0.0355) and trunk fat (-3.1kg vs. -2.2kg) vs. the 25PRO group. Conclusion: Both diets significantly improved BW, AbOb, MetS risk factors, glycemic control, and BF (%); LBM (kg) loss was similar in both groups. Compared to the 15PRO diet had significantly greater absolute BF-kg and trunk fat-kg losses. Increased PRO intake did not improve AbOb or MetS risk beyond ER and HIT/CME. The impact of HIT/CME and the greater (-1.3kg) changes in BW in the 15PRO group may have contributed significantly to the changes in absolute BF and trunk fat. More research is needed to separate the impact of HIT/CME and weight loss from the impact of PRO during ER. / Graduation date: 2013 / Access restricted to the OSU Community at author's request from March 28, 2013 - March 28, 2014