
Weight loss is getting yet another helping hand from modern science with the emergence of new diet drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Semaglutide. Intellectually we know that a pill or injection alone isn't the golden ticket to comprehensive health, but let's face it, when you've got a shortcut to shedding pounds, the motivation to strap on those gym shoes might wane a bit. Still, as tempting as it might be to ditch exercise altogether, health experts are chiming in to remind us that physical activity is about more than just burning calories—it's about overall well-being.
Christina Dieli-Conwright, an associate professor at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, put it plainly when she told Harvard Gazette, "Exercise is good for everything from cognition and mental health benefits such as preventing neurocognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s disease to cardiovascular benefits like preventing mortality from cardiovascular disease." That's not all; regular workouts can boost lung function, gastrointestinal health, and even potentially alleviate depression, anxiety, and fatigue. While these drugs might tip the scales in your favor, they can't compare to the full spectrum of benefits provided by regular, old-fashioned exercise.
It's important to acknowledge, exercise isn’t a surefire way to drop pounds on its own. As Dieli-Conwright explained, the connection between exercise and weight loss isn’t as straightforward as many believe, exercise alone doesn’t typically put an individual into enough of a caloric deficit to cause significant weight loss.
Then there’s the issue of maintaining a healthy weight. I-Min Lee, a professor at the Chan School and Harvard Medical School, illustrated the point with data on the benefits of exercise in disease prevention and management. A study Lee co-authored in 2019 found that regular exercise can significantly reduce the risk of several types of cancer, an effect that stands regardless of BMI, but is indeed augmented with a healthier weight. Lee encourages starting small with exercise regimens, adding, "That way you get a little bit of benefit," according to a statement obtained by the Harvard Gazette. This approach is not only beneficial, but also realistically achievable for many people.
Adding a few minutes of activity here, a short walk there, it's about building healthier habits rather than chasing dramatic transformations overnight. Assistant professor Edward Phillips from Harvard Medical School and director of the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine, compared making small changes to combat dehydration by drinking more water, followed by a short walk, which could unintentionally grow into a longer stroll. Aiming for the recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise should be a goal, but isn't always the starting point for everyone.
But don't just run on the treadmill or pump the elliptical; Dieli-Conwright emphasized the importance of mixing in some resistance training as well. "You’re going to get more bang for your buck if you do both aerobic and resistance exercise," Dieli-Conwright told the Harvard Gazette. This combination maximizes cardiorespiratory benefits and strengthens muscles while also helping manage blood glucose levels, which is crucial for diabetes management.
Making an exercise routine a habit, that's the real challenge. Dieli-Conwright pointed out that while obesity leads to numerous health issues, being "fit and fat" is a potential paradigm to consider, where one might be overweight but metabolically healthy. Ultimately, even with the advent of these 'miracle' diet medications, it's clear that exercise remains a non-negotiable pillar of health, and as the evidence suggests, there's more to working out than just the effort to tip the scales—you're investing in a healthier, more functional life.