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Resistance training is an effective strategy to counteract the age‐related loss of muscle mass and strength in elderly, but whether the benefits of training differ between sexes is unclear. A total of 297 elderly men and women were randomized to 1 year of heavy resistance training (HRT) or control (CON). Changes in muscle function and body composition were compared between sexes and groups. Improvements in muscle strength, body fat, muscle mass and size were observed, but the absolute improvements in muscle strength (23 Nm ± 2.3 vs 11 Nm ± 2.2, P < .01) and visceral fat content (−215 g ± 50 vs −60 g ± 21, P < .01) were greater in men. Also, the relative decrease in body fat % (−6.8% ± 1.1 vs −2.7% ± 0.7, P < .05) and fat mass (−7.9% ± 1.4 vs −2.7% ± 1.0, P < .05) was more pronounced in men. Heavy resistance training improved more than CON in most muscular and body composition parameters with greater increase in muscle strength and decrease in body fat in men. Consequently, resistance training is recommendable to counteract age‐related losses of muscle mass and strength and to reduce body fat in elderly, however, with a small advantage for men in parameters that predict metabolic risk factors.