Energy balance
Weight loss acts as a significant moderator for the effect of combined interventions on visceral fat area (VFA), but not for liver fat or intramuscular triglycerides (IMTG).
Losing weight helps reduce visceral fat, but it may not be enough to reduce liver or muscle fat. If you have concerns about liver or muscle fat, you may need additional strategies beyond just weight loss.
Meta-regression indicated that weight loss was a significant moderator of the effect of combined interventions on VFA (coefficient: −0.15; p = 0.030), but not for other outcomes.
Why this rating
Based on meta-regression of the included studies.
Source
Combined exercise training and dietary interventions versus independent effect of exercise on ectopic fat in individuals with overweight and obesity: a systematic review, meta‐analysis, and meta-regression
Fatemeh Kazeminasab et al. · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2025
DOI 10.1080/15502783.2025.2528534
More from this paper
- Combined exercise and dietary interventions produce significantly greater body weight loss than exercise alone in adults with overweight or obesity, but do not significantly reduce ectopic fat (liver fat, visceral fat area, or intramuscular triglycerides) compared to exercise alone.Good
- Long-term interventions (>12 weeks) involving either exercise or caloric restriction are successful in decreasing visceral fat area (VFA) in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas short-term interventions may not be.Good
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