When people lose weight to manage their health, they often face a difficult hurdle: keeping those health gains over the long term. For women with overweight and sedentary lifestyles, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes can fluctuate as weight fluctuates. This study looked at how different types of exercise impact that risk after a period of intentional weight loss.
Researchers followed 221 women who followed a calorie-restricted diet. Some added aerobic exercise, while others added resistance exercise. While all groups saw an initial drop in their risk for heart issues and type 2 diabetes, many saw those risks start to climb again after one year. However, there was a notable difference in the group that performed resistance exercises.
Specifically, the group that did resistance training maintained a significant reduction in their risk for type 2 diabetes at the one-year mark. This suggests that while diet is the first step, adding strength-building movements might provide a more stable defense against diabetes progression. Because the study was small and specific to sedentary women, talk to your doctor about the best exercise plan for your personal health goals.
