Research

Energy balance

Lifestyle interventions incorporating physical activity significantly reduce body weight (mean difference 8.9 kg) and BMI (2.8 kg/m²) in individuals with Class II and III obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²).

For individuals with Class II or III obesity, combining dietary changes (specifically caloric restriction) with physical activity leads to significant weight loss (averaging nearly 9 kg) and improved health markers. The intensity and supervision of the exercise can vary, but consistent engagement in these lifestyle changes is effective for this population.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
The pooled mean difference in weight loss was 8.9 kg (95% CI, 10.2–7.7; p < 0.01) and 2.8 kg/m² in BMI loss (95% CI, 3.4–2.2; p < 0.01).
Aurélie Baillot et al. · PLoS ONE · 2015

Why this rating

The meta-analysis includes a large majority (80%) of uncontrolled studies, which limits causal inference compared to randomized controlled trials, though the pooled effect is statistically significant.

Source

Effects of Lifestyle Interventions That Include a Physical Activity Component in Class II and III Obese Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aurélie Baillot et al. · PLoS ONE · 2015

DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0119017

Meta-analysis · 56 studiesCited 123×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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