Exercise Enhances Fat Loss and Preserves Muscle

In a study contrasting exercise-induced and diet-induced energy deficits, participants engaging in light jogging lost an average of 15 pounds, including an additional 3 pounds of fat compared to the diet-only group. The exercise group preserved lean mass better, contrary to typical expectations where calorie restriction alone leads to 20-30% loss of lean mass. When exercise is included, lean mass losses were halved, indicating that the common rule of a quarter fat-free mass loss predominantly applies to individuals without exercise. This suggests that integrating exercise into weight loss strategies is essential for optimizing fat loss while preserving muscle mass.