Research

Energy balance

Regular moderate-intensity exercise combined with a low-calorie diet results in significantly greater short-term weight loss compared to diet alone.

To maximize weight loss, combine a low-calorie diet with regular moderate-intensity exercise. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. This combination leads to significantly better results than dieting alone.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Participants reporting regular exercise had greater weight loss compared to those who remained sedentary, with losses of 15.9% versus 9.2% (P = 0.03), respectively.
Wendy M. Miller et al. · Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders · 2009

Why this rating

Retrospective chart review, non-randomized, small sample size (n=86), but statistically significant results.

Source

Advantages of Group Treatment and Structured Exercise in Promoting Short-Term Weight Loss and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in Adults With Central Obesity

Wendy M. Miller et al. · Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders · 2009

DOI 10.1089/met.2008.0103

cohort · n=86Cited 9×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →