S1W1 Obesity and Energy Balance part 8

Question 1

Why do people often regain the weight they lose?

Answer 1

• The majority of individuals who initially lose weight regain weight in less than 1 year
• because once someone has been overweight their physiology will never be the same again, the hard wiring of the brain, adipokines, making weight loss maintenance very difficult

Question 2

What is liraglutide?

Answer 2

• a weight loss drug that leads to about 5% weight loss in people with obesity

Question 3

Is exercise as effective for weight loss maintenance as a weight loss drug?

Answer 3

• a study by Lundgren et al (2021) found no difference in weight loss maintenance over a year between people doing exercise and people taking liraglutide
• showing that exercise is as effective as taking the weight loss drug for weight loss maintenance

Question 4

Why is exercise not always useful for people with obesity?

Answer 4

It is hard for individuals with obesity to do a volume of exercise that is going to benefit them

Question 5

What are the ACSM guidelines for physical activity for weight loss maintenance?

Answer 5

‘some studies support the value of 200-300 min/week during weight maintenance to reduce weight regain after weight loss; and it seems more is better’

Question 6

Summary of week 1 lecture

Answer 6

• Obesity impairs health and longevity via metabolic & physical mechanisms
• Epidemiological evidence suggests that more active individuals gain less weight over time
• Experimental data shows that exercise training can provoke weight loss if the volume is high and diet is controlled
• Recent experimental data demonstrates that exercise training can support weight loss maintenance
• It is easier to induce negative energy balance through dietary changes than exercise