More exercise, less deep fat
- Published in
- Br J Sports Med 2023
- People studied
- 2,190
In 40 trials with 2,190 adults with overweight or obesity, both exercise and eating fewer calories reduced fat around the organs. With exercise, burning more energy each week went with more deep fat lost.
- Checked against
- PubMed 36669870
- Published in
- Br J Sports Med 2023
- Last checked
- 30 October 2026
Key takeaway
This pooled analysis of 40 randomised trials with 2,190 adults with overweight or obesity measured fat around the organs on CT or MRI scans. Both exercise and eating fewer calories reduced it compared with control groups. With exercise, the more energy burned each week, the more deep fat was lost; with eating fewer calories no such pattern was found.
At a glance
- Type of study
- pooled analysis of randomised trials (meta-analysis)
- People studied
- 2,190
- Compared with
- control groups that did not cut calories or add exercise
- Main result
- Exercise and eating less both reduced fat around the organs.
- Strength of evidence
- Randomised trials
What this study does not show
Most trials had a moderate risk of bias, meaning some weaknesses that could skew the results. The missing pattern for eating less may come from the smaller number of diet trials.
Results from studies in groups of people, mostly in diet and movement programmes. They cannot be promised to any one person. This information is educational and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.
More on fat
- Less fat around the organsSmall or uncontrolled studies · Gepner et al., Circulation 2018
- Deep fat can go tooLong-term or observational studies · Verheggen et al., Obes Rev 2016
- Less fat inside the bellySmall or uncontrolled studies · Ross et al., Ann Intern Med 2000
- Lower inflammation markersRandomised trials · Esposito et al., JAMA 2003
- More exercise, less deep fatRandomised trials · Recchia et al., Br J Sports Med 2023
- Smaller waist, less inflammationRandomised trials · Rahimi et al., Biol Res Nurs 2022
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