In adults with overweight or obesity, following 300 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week was linked to small reductions in waist size, with men showing slightly greater reductions than...
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
When people with overweight or obesity move more — like walking or jogging for 300 minutes a week — their bodies burn more fat, especially around the waist, and this effect is stronger in men than in women, as shown in a study using wearable trackers and in-person measurements (10.3390/s26103256).
Most probable mechanism
When people move more — like walking or jogging for 300 minutes a week — their bodies burn more fat for energy, especially around the waist, and this happens a bit more in men than in women, as seen in people tracked with wearables during a year-long weight loss study (10.3390/s26103256).
Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity increases sympathetic nervous system activation, stimulating adipose tissue lipolysis and free fatty acid release into circulation — supported by metabolic studies linking exercise intensity to fat breakdown.
Increased fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle and liver during sustained activity elevates total energy expenditure, creating a negative energy balance that preferentially reduces visceral fat stores.
Sex differences in adipose tissue distribution, hormone sensitivity, and muscle mass lead to greater visceral fat reduction per unit of activity in men compared to women, consistent with observed waist circumference changes.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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Wearable-Measured Physical Activity Goal Adherence and Body Composition Change in a 12-Month mHealth Weight Loss Trial
Contradicting (0)
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Gold Standard Evidence Needed
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