This study from Loyola University found there was no association between weight gain and calories burned during physical activity. It is just simply too hard to exercise enough to really make a difference.

That having been said, there are a million other reasons why regular exercise is a great idea, from better sleep to improved memory and brain function, to reducing the likelihood of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and various cancers. You aren’t as likely to develop osteoporsis and significantly more likely to age gracefully and avoid assisted living situations. But, if you are planning on treadmilling yourself thin, you might want to think again.

The results of this study actually somewhat surprised me – there seemed to be quite a bit of decent research about the benefits of a low carb diet and a logical correlation between that and diabetes. I guess I never thought to compare these two together, however.

To sum it up where it REALLY counts, diabetes medications were reduced or eliminated in 95.2% of low-carb dieters vs. 62% of Low GI dieters. WOW!

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Dietary carbohydrate is the major determinant of postprandial glucose levels, and several clinical studies have shown that low-carbohydrate diets improve glycemic control. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a diet lower in carbohydrate would lead to greater improvement in glycemic control over a 24-week period in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Research design and methods: Eighty-four community volunteers with obesity and type 2 diabetes were randomized to either a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet (<20 g of carbohydrate daily; LCKD) or a low-glycemic, reduced-calorie diet (500 kcal/day deficit from weight maintenance diet; LGID). Both groups received group meetings, nutritional supplementation, and an exercise recommendation. The main outcome was glycemic control, measured by hemoglobin A1c.

RESULTS: Forty-nine (58.3%) participants completed the study. Both interventions led to improvements in hemoglobin A1c, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and weight loss. The LCKD group had greater improvements in hemoglobin A1c (-1.5% vs. -0.5%, p=0.03), body weight (-11.1 kg vs. -6.9 kg, p=0.008), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (+5.6 mg/dL vs. 0 mg/dL, p<0.001) compared to the LGID group. Diabetes medications were reduced or eliminated in 95.2% of LCKD vs. 62% of LGID participants (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Dietary modification led to improvements in glycemic control and medication reduction/elimination in motivated volunteers with type 2 diabetes. The diet lower in carbohydrate led to greater improvements in glycemic control, and more frequent medication reduction/elimination than the low glycemic index diet. Lifestyle modification using low carbohydrate interventions is effective for improving and reversing type 2 diabetes.

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