Eddy Edson
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
It may be surprising that the answer to that is still not clear. A recent really interesting debate between Herman Pontzer (mostly ineffective) and Allison et al (modestly effective) summarised at the link below.
However, experts generally agree that eating less is generally much more effective than exercise for weight loss. But for weight loss maintenance, much more evidence for the effectiveness of exercise.
: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41366-022-01247-4
In recent correspondence Allison et al. [1] and Pontzer [2] debate the extent to which there is evidence for compensatory processes that minimize the influence physical activity has on energy balance and therefore how effective physical activity is as a strategy for weight loss.
The authors find common ground in their appraisal of whether the amount of energy expenditure caused by increased physical activity translates directly to weight loss in a linear fashion; it doesn’t, as if it did people should lose more weight than they do in trials in which physical activity is increased under close supervision [3].
However, the authors find less common ground on the overall utility of physical activity as a tool for weight loss. Because of the above considerations Pontzer is not convinced that physical activity promotes weight loss, suggesting that due to uncertainty in research to date, the effect of physical activity on weight loss may be non-existent or at best physical activity is a poor tool for weight loss. Conversely, Allison et al. argue that there is convincing evidence that physical activity causes modest weight loss, providing you look at data from the most compelling study designs; randomized control trials.
..................
Physical activity alone will not be a magic bullet for weight loss, as Pontzer elegantly argues. However, as Allison et al. argue, physical activity is one tool that we can use to address obesity on an individual patient level and ideally in conjunction with a more powerful tool for weight loss; dietary intervention.
However, experts generally agree that eating less is generally much more effective than exercise for weight loss. But for weight loss maintenance, much more evidence for the effectiveness of exercise.
: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41366-022-01247-4
In recent correspondence Allison et al. [1] and Pontzer [2] debate the extent to which there is evidence for compensatory processes that minimize the influence physical activity has on energy balance and therefore how effective physical activity is as a strategy for weight loss.
The authors find common ground in their appraisal of whether the amount of energy expenditure caused by increased physical activity translates directly to weight loss in a linear fashion; it doesn’t, as if it did people should lose more weight than they do in trials in which physical activity is increased under close supervision [3].
However, the authors find less common ground on the overall utility of physical activity as a tool for weight loss. Because of the above considerations Pontzer is not convinced that physical activity promotes weight loss, suggesting that due to uncertainty in research to date, the effect of physical activity on weight loss may be non-existent or at best physical activity is a poor tool for weight loss. Conversely, Allison et al. argue that there is convincing evidence that physical activity causes modest weight loss, providing you look at data from the most compelling study designs; randomized control trials.
..................
Physical activity alone will not be a magic bullet for weight loss, as Pontzer elegantly argues. However, as Allison et al. argue, physical activity is one tool that we can use to address obesity on an individual patient level and ideally in conjunction with a more powerful tool for weight loss; dietary intervention.
