Role of Physical Activity in Obesity Treatment and Cardiometabolic Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Independently of weight loss, physical activity and exercise programs improve major cardiometabolic risk factors, including hypertension, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia

As a single treatment, physical activity is unlikely to produce clinically meaningful weight loss (≥5% of initial body weight) unless aerobic activity levels are exceptionally high

Combined with diet-induced negative energy balance, obesity medication or surgery, increased physical activity can augment total weight loss and improve cardiometabolic outcomes