A One-Two (Natural) Punch for Weight Loss
By Editorial Staff
As GLP-1 medications continue to trend, it's critical to reiterate that long-term, safe weight loss – without relying on medication – still boils down to the basics, starting with healthier eating and consistent physical activity.
Here's what recent research suggests is the ideal way to increase fat loss by combining these two elements of a healthy lifestyle.
According to research findings published in the International Journal of Obesity, the one-two punch for weight loss combines intermittent fasting with exercise. The result: increased fat loss vs. exercise alone – and without sacrificing muscle mass in the process (a perpetual concern when people are losing weight, particularly via intermittent fasting).
This wasn't an isolated study; researchers compared 15 previous investigations over the past decade in arriving at their conclusion. Findings also weren't based on adopting an extreme diet: Intermittent fasting consistent of 16 hours of fasting paired with an eight-hour eating window. (If you think about it, that just means not eating from 7 p.m. until 11 a.m. – and half of that time is generally spent sleeping).
While GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have proven successful in achieving weight loss, they come with a number of concerns, first and foremost the fact that they're drugs – and all drugs have side effects, many of which don't seem to be thoroughly investigated until later.
Additionally, relying on medication for weight loss may make it easy to continue ignoring how diet, exercise, stress, sleep, and other variables led to your weight gain in the first place. And finally, don't overlook the emotional component, particularly if you've struggled with your weight for years and/or have a significant weight challenge. GLP-1 medications won't address any of that – which means they won't address the root cause(s).
