Fast Five Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Facilitating Healthy Weight Loss?

Romesh Khardori, MD, PhD; Evelyn S. Marienberg, MD

November 08, 2022

In deconditioned individuals, energy expenditures are minimal, resulting in exercise having a relatively minor direct function in weight loss, according to Donnelly and colleagues. However, exercise still plays an integral role in weight loss and overall health. Research supports the importance of exercise with respect to improved cardiovascular fitness, insulin sensitivity, glycemic control of type 2 diabetes, blood pressure, and depression scores. Additionally, studies have shown that the ability to develop and sustain an exercise program is the strongest predictor of successful long-term weight loss.

According to Saif and colleagues, aerobic isotonic exercise holds the greatest value for persons who are obese. Ideally, the ultimate minimum goal should be to achieve 30-60 minutes of continuous aerobic exercise five to seven times per week. After achieving this goal, adjunctive anaerobic isometric exercise, including resistance training, can be carefully added.

For previously sedentary individuals, a slow progression in physical activity has been recommended, with the goal of achieving 30 minutes of exercise daily after several weeks of gradual build-up.

Learn more about breaking down barriers to weight loss.

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Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.

Cite this: Romesh Khardori, Evelyn S. Marienberg. Fast Five Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Facilitating Healthy Weight Loss? - Medscape - Nov 08, 2022.

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