Weight Loss and Glycemic Control

Losing weight can improve insulin action and glycemic control. But does it make a difference whether weight is lost by reducing caloric intake or by increasing energy expenditure?

Investigators studied the effects of caloric restriction and exercise-induced energy expenditure on 36 sedentary men and women 50–60 years old with a body mass index of 23.5–29.9. Half the participants were randomly assigned to one of two weight-loss strategies. One group was put on an intervention that reduced caloric intake by 16% in the first 3 months and 20% in the following 9 months. The remaining participants engaged in an exercise program aimed at producing a similar energy deficit, increasing energy expenditure by 16–20% over the 12-month study.

At the end of the study period, blood tests showed that both groups had improvements in insulin activity and glycemic control. But one method of weight loss did not produce changes significantly different from the other.

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