The DOI matches its Crossref record; 41 of the 41 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Long-term effectiveness of diet-plus-exercise interventions vs. diet-only interventions for weight loss: a meta-analysis
Open accessAbstract
Summary: Diet and exercise are two of the commonest strategies to reduce weight. Whether a diet‐plus‐exercise intervention is more effective for weight loss than a diet‐only intervention in the long‐term has not been conclusively established. The objective of this study was to systemically review the effect of diet‐plus‐exercise interventions vs. diet‐only interventions on both long‐term and short‐term weight loss. Studies were retrieved by searching MEDLINE and Cochrane Library (1966 – June 2008). Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials comparing the effect of diet‐plus‐exercise interventions vs. diet‐only interventions on weight loss for a minimum of 6 months among obese or overweight adults. Eighteen studies met our inclusion criteria. Data were independently extracted by two investigators using a standardized protocol. We found that the overall standardized mean differences between diet‐plus‐exercise interventions and diet‐only interventions at the end of follow‐up were −0.25 (95% confidence interval [CI]−0.36 to −0.14), with a P‐value for heterogeneity of 0.4. Because there were two outcome measurements, weight (kg) and body mass index (kg m−2), we also stratified the results by weight and body mass index outcome. The pooled weight loss was 1.14 kg (95% CI 0.21 to 2.07) or 0.50 kg m−2 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.79) greater for the diet‐plus‐exercise group than the diet‐only group. We did not detect significant heterogeneity in either stratum. Even in studies lasting 2 years or longer, diet‐plus‐exercise interventions provided significantly greater weight loss than diet‐only interventions. In summary, a combined diet‐plus‐exercise programme provided greater long‐term weight loss than a diet‐only programme. However, both diet‐only and diet‐plus‐exercise programmes are associated with partial weight regain, and future studies should explore better strategies to limit weight regain and achieve greater long‐term weight loss.
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“Obesity interventions typically result in early rapid weight loss followed by a weight plateau and progressive regain.”
From Maintenance of Lost Weight and Long-Term Management of Obesity (2018) · cites this paper as [3]
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“concluding that participation in an exercise training program does favor weight loss, although of only modest magnitude.”
From Effect of exercise training on weight loss, body composition changes, and weight maintenance in adults with overweight or obesity: An overview of 12 systematic reviews and 149 studies (2021) · cites this paper as [28]
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“Weight loss can be achieved through a variety of modalities, but long-term maintenance of lost weight is much more challenging.”
From Maintenance of Lost Weight and Long-Term Management of Obesity (2018) · cites this paper as [3]
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Zhang, R., Guo, J., Sun, J., & Gu, J. (2026) · Frontiers in Physiology · doi:10.3389/fphys.2026.1762153
Legrand, K. (2017) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/30a6ea3cz5b1bz48e4zbff4zb2c7dbf591b4
“Malgré une baisse globale de la consommation de fruits et légumes, les i te e tio s e isaie t pas u i ue e t e poi t ais o i aie t l’ali e tatio et l’a ti it physique qui ont été démontrés comme plus favorables que les interventions uniquement centrées su l’ali e tatio à lo g te e (Wu et al., 2009).”
BackgroundAcute exercise and subsequent energy balance : interest in obese youths
Thivel, D. (2011) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/2e718831zc097z496fz91faza4ad2e063989
Dumoulin, C. (2018) · doi:10.70675/6c96a4a6zeec5z4f6dza1f3zfb9dc6977d82
“Des études comme celle de Waters (Waters et al.,2013) chez des sujets atteints d'obésité âgés de plus de 65 ans rapportent une perte de 2,5 kg.m3 sur l’IMC à 30 mois de programme d’AP ou encore -0,67 kg.m3 à 2 ans post-programme (Wu et al., 2009).”
BackgroundInfluentialPlasticité des muqueuses gastrique et instestinale après chirurgie bariatrique
Ribeiro‐Parenti, L. (2018) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/ebd178d7z525fz46c6z9ca5z6babd16dee1b
Derhourhi, M. (2018) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/2d396fe9z564dz48a1z89b4z746f99df764e
L'activité physique, arbitre des relations entre le statut pondéral et la physiologie osseuse ?
Rassy, N. (2018) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/85356319zd8d6z4e65z8ae6za4c843566bd9
Metabolic Roles of Acyl Coenzyme A-Binding Protein (ACBP)/Diazepam Binding Inhibitor (DBI)
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“Childhood obesity represents a critical global health challenge, and combined diet-plus-exercise interventions are superior to diet-only approaches for weight management [10].”
Li, Y., Li, J., Deng, J., Xia, P., Zhou, G., Zhu, Z., Ding, Y., Yang, J., & Zhang, F. (2026) · Food Research International · doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2026.120365
Çil, N., Yaka, M., Neşet, G., Kılıç-Erkek, Ö., Demirbağ, H. O., Bor-Küçükatay, M., Gündoğdu, G., Ünal, M. S., & Mete, G. A. (2026) · Ultrastructural Pathology · doi:10.1080/01913123.2026.2724941
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Metadata
- Authors
- Wu, T., Gao, X., Chen, M., & Van Dam, R. M.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wu, T.
- Venue
- Obesity Reviews
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2009-04-24
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 313-323
- ISSN
- 1467-7881 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-789X
- OpenAlex
- W2160779142
- Semantic Scholar
- 2e2c800320db9017115a2ee36508002f2df52542
- Cited by
- 515
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 42 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 40 · 2017: 47 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 33 · 2013: 37 · 2012: 25
- FWCI
- 3.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Obesity Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment
- Keywords
- weight loss, obesity, overweight adults, long-term weight loss, body mass index, weight regain, combined diet and exercise
- MeSH terms
- Diet, Humans, Time Factors, Weight Loss, Exercise, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
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