Exercise and weight loss combination amplifies battle against obesity and prediabetes

Groundbreaking research conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reveals the tremendous impact of combining regular exercise with a 10% body weight loss in combating obesity and prediabetes. The study found that this combination more than doubles insulin sensitivity compared to weight loss alone, reducing the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.

The researchers initially knew that modest weight loss improves insulin sensitivity, and exercise alone has limited efficacy in aiding individuals with obesity and prediabetes in shedding pounds. However, they were astonished to discover the profound effect that combining a consistent exercise regimen with a 10% reduction in body weight can have on insulin sensitivity.

Published in the journal Nature Metabolism, the findings shed light on the crucial role of exercise in improving overall health outcomes for individuals struggling with obesity and prediabetes.

Dr. Samuel Klein, the senior investigator and director of the Center for Human Nutrition, explained the significance of the study’s results: “Insulin resistance is a major factor that causes Type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and abnormal blood lipids in people with obesity. We’ve shown that combining exercise with weight loss causes a marked improvement in whole-body insulin sensitivity, thereby lowering the risk of developing diabetes and treating obesity-related metabolic diseases to a much greater degree than is possible with weight loss alone.”

The study involved 16 participants with a body mass index (BMI) ranging from 30 to 49, indicating obesity. All participants had prediabetes and demonstrated medical evidence of insulin resistance.

Eight participants underwent a diet-only intervention, resulting in a 10% body weight loss. The other eight individuals followed the same dietary plan but also engaged in supervised exercise sessions multiple times per week.

Dr. Klein highlighted the significance of their findings: “The data from most studies show that exercise has very little effect on body weight in people with obesity… Our study involved detailed analyses of metabolic changes in muscle and body fat before and after a 10% weight loss in people who lost weight with diet therapy alone and in those who lost the same amount of weight with diet therapy plus supervised exercise training. The results demonstrate that the benefits of combining exercise with weight loss are considerable.”

With over 37 million Americans living with diabetes and more than 40% of the population grappling with obesity, which is a significant contributor to diabetes cases, the study’s findings have far-reaching implications. Approximately 96 million adults in the United States, or one in three, are estimated to have prediabetes.

Dr. Klein emphasised the crucial role of exercise in weight management therapy, stating, “The metabolic benefits we found in this study demonstrate the profound reasons why exercise should always be included in weight-management therapy.”