Is It Time to Rethink Our Weight Loss Paradigms?

Paulo Gentil,João Pedro Naves,Jeremy Loenneke,Claudio André Barbosa De Lira,Ricardo Borges Viana,Fabrício Boscolo Del Vecchio,Victor Coswig

doi:10.3390/biology9040070

Abstract

Strategies aiming to promote weight loss usually include anything that results in an increase in energy expenditure (exercise) or a decrease in energy intake (diet). However, the probability of losing weight is low and the probability of sustained weight loss is even lower. Herein, we bring some questions and suggestions about the topic, with a focus on exercise interventions. Based on the current evidence, we should look at how metabolism changes in response to interventions instead of counting calories, so we can choose more efficient models that can account for the complexity of human organisms. In this regard, high-intensity training might be particularly interesting as a strategy to promote fat loss since it seems to promote many physiological changes that might favor long-term weight loss. However, it is important to recognize the controversy of the results regarding interval training (IT), which might be explained by the large variations in its application. For this reason, we have to be more judicious about how exercise is planned and performed and some factors, like supervision, might be important for the results. The intensity of exercise seems to modulate not only how many calories are expended after exercise, but also where they came from. Instead of only estimating the number of calories ingested and expended, it seems that we have to act positively in order to create an adequate environment for promoting healthy and sustainable weight loss.

Highlights

Strategies aiming to promote weight loss usually include anything that results in an increase in energy expenditure or a decrease in energy intake
In a recent article published by our group [6], 49 women were randomly assigned to perform two types of interval training (IT), high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and sprint interval training (SIT), and found positive changes in their adiposity measures without changing their nutritional habits
Low to moderate continuous training has been shown to induce increases in fat synthesis after its cessation [49,50,51,52,53,54]. Whilst this does not mean that low- to moderate-intensity exercise will make people gain fat, this suggests that the metabolic adaptation to this form of exercise might, at least partially, compensate for the fat oxidized during exercise

Summary

Problem Statement

Being overweight and/or obese are associated with numerous health risks, the prevalence of both are continuing to increase worldwide [1]. Despite the short-term success of both exercise and diet, neither strategy seems to be effective for sustaining long-term changes in most individuals. The estimated weight loss for diet and/or exercise is approximately 2 kg by the end of two years in overweight and obese people [3,4]. The probability of an obese individual attaining a normal weight is low and the probability of sustained weight loss is even lower. Biology 2020, 9, 70 not control for exercise and diet, it provides important information about the difficulty in promoting sustainable weight loss. We highlight the importance of promoting the choice of exercise and supervision for those seeking or working with those seeking to sustain long-term changes in weight status/body fat

Current Support for Exercise

Considerations Moving Forward

Findings

Conclusions