Khaberni - The basic principle of weight loss is clear: If you consume fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight. However, practically, it’s not that easy or simple, as in addition to counting calories or eating less food, many add exercise to the equation when trying to lose weight to help tip the balance. Nonetheless, research shows that exercise may only have a minor effect on weight loss.
But that doesn’t mean you should give up your workouts. According to a research paper published by "The Conversation" by researcher Rachel Woods from the University of Lincoln, exercise still plays a crucial role in health, perhaps especially in maintaining weight after reaching the ideal weight.
Why does exercise have a lesser impact on weight?
There are several processes that explain why exercise doesn’t always lead to significant weight loss.
One of these explanations is that exercise may stimulate the appetite, leading to an increase in food intake.
People may also move less subconsciously throughout the rest of the day after exercising, which means that exercise might have a lesser effect on their overall caloric deficit.
Over time, the body becomes more efficient, burning fewer calories while performing the same physical activity.
This process, sometimes called "metabolic adaptation", reflects the body's tendency to defend against weight loss.
The importance of physical exercise
In a study involving more than 1100 people, physical activity had no significant effect on how much weight a person initially lost. However, an increase in physical activity after weight loss was closely associated with maintaining the lost weight.
It is important to note that physical exercises were also linked to noticeable health improvements, including cholesterol levels, reduced inflammation, improved blood sugar control, increased insulin sensitivity, all associated with a decreased risk of health issues like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
These many health benefits highlight the importance of engaging in physical exercise during weight loss and its maintenance.
When we lose weight, our energy intake at rest decreases more than expected for the amount of weight lost. It is believed that this contributes to weight regain. However, physical exercise increases the total daily energy intake, helping to partially compensate for that.
