Weight Loss With And Without Exercise

The Study

In this interesting trial, 8 obese, prediabetic subjects lost 10% of their body weight by changing their diet and another 8 obese, prediabetic subjects lost 10% of their body weight by changing their diet and exercising. A variety of metabolic tests were conducted both before and after the intervention.

The group that added exercise to their weight loss program had a two-fold improvement in insulin sensitivity. These subjects also had an increased muscular expression of genes involved in the biogenesis of mitochondria, energy metabolism and angiogenesis (which is the creation of new blood vessels).

Nature Metabolism 2023; 5:1221.

Take Home Message

Losing weight by changing your diet is great. Losing weight by changing your diet and exercising is even better. This study is really relevant given the explosion in the use of Ozempic and Mounjaro weight loss medications. Many are losing weight with these drugs while not really paying attention to their diet and exercise programs. This leaves a lot of health benefits on the table. Exercise is an essential component of any weight loss program and should not be neglected.