Exercise, Weight Loss, and Health

A recent study focused on the effect of exercise or caloric restriction on weight loss and certain metabolic markers. 80 abdominally obese middle-aged Asian men were either put in a group where they reduced their caloric intake by 500 calories a day, or in a group that exercised (200-300 minutes a week) where their goal was to increase their caloric expenditure by 500 calories a day. After 24 weeks both groups lost approximately the same amount of weight. However the exercise group showed a greater decrease in overall inflammation, improved insulin sensitivity (important in preventing diabetes), and a better adipokine (hormones secreted by fat) profile. This study is interesting in that it was able to separate the effects of exercise and diet.