Essential for maintaining good health on a daily basis (especially to protect against cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes), sport is also formidably effective for weight loss. By building muscle mass, we increase the basal metabolism, that is to say the number of calories burned when the body is at rest. In addition, the silhouette is sculpted in length: perfect for obtaining a mannequin body!
But according to a new study from the City University of New York (United States), sport is not effective in the long term for weight loss. Indeed, the body would gradually “get used” to the effort, until the number of additional calories burned per session is almost zero, regardless of the intensity. As if a “plateau” had been reached.
Sport + balanced diet = the association that works!
The researchers followed 300 athletes (men and women of different ages and ethnic origins) for 7 days. Result: if, at the start of the experiment, the number of calories consumed per session was relatively high (up to 700 Kcal for 1 houraquabiking, for example), at the end of a week already, the number had started to stagnate, because of the capacities of adaptation and energy saving of the organism.
The conclusions of the study nevertheless show that people who practice moderate physical activity burn on average 200 Kcal more than sedentary people.
“Playing sports is essential. However, if you practice a discipline with the aim of losing weight, it is not enough, explains Dr. Herman Pontzer, main author of this work, published in the specialized magazine Current Biology. Physical activity must be accompanied by an adapted diet. “
