Exercise is about more than the number on the scale. Regular physical activity can improve cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, and help the body regulate blood sugar more effectively.
This can lower the risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, according to The Conversation, as cited by SciTechDaily.
Research also indicates that exercise can make it easier to maintain weight loss when combined with treatments such as weight-loss medication.
The body works against you
Many people believe that exercising more automatically leads to significant weight loss. However, it is not that simple.
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According to The Conversation, exercise can increase appetite, causing some people to eat more afterward.
At the same time, the body gradually becomes more efficient at performing the same movements while using less energy.
As a result, the benefits of exercise for weight loss often diminish over time.
Strength training, however, can help preserve muscle mass. This is important because muscle increases the body's energy expenditure, even at rest.
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Exercise had a limited effect
A study published in Frontiers in Nutrition involving more than 1,100 participants found that exercise had only a limited impact on how much weight participants lost initially.
However, according to The Conversation, people who remained physically active after losing weight were more likely to maintain a stable weight.
Exercise is not necessarily the most effective way to achieve significant weight loss. However, research suggests that physical activity plays an important role once weight loss has been achieved, while also providing a wide range of well-documented health benefits.
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