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Prof. Dr. Jesús Gustavo Ponce González

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1. ExPhy Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, 11519 Cadiz, Spain
2. Unidad de Investigación, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, 11009 Cadiz, Spain
Interests: exercise training; HIIT; sports; physical fitness; performance; exercise physiology; health; obesity and comorbidities; type 2 diabetes; metabolism; nutrition; appetite and endocrine system
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Dear Colleagues,

Maximal fat oxidation (MFO) is defined as the intensity at which a threshold is met for the optimal utilization of fat as a fuel source. Factors classically affecting MFO include intensity, duration of exercise, and individual fitness; however, nutritional manipulations of macronutrient composition and timing also have a significant impact on MFO. For instance, a higher consumption of carbohydrates prior to exercise may improve performance; however, it would simultaneously displace the body's reliance on fat oxidation. Conversely, a diet high in healthy fats can stimulate MFO during exercise at moderate intensity. Additionally, appetite regulation remains a key issue in this context; hormones associated with the exercise–diet response affect energy balance and fat utilization. These interrelationships are important to understand with regard to the development of appropriate exercise and nutritional interventions that can optimally enhance fat metabolism. This Special Issue will discuss the various interrelated factors that influence MFO and describe how targeted strategies may serve to enhance fat oxidation to promote metabolic health.

Prof. Dr. Jesús Gustavo Ponce González
Guest Editor

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Research

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17 pages, 548 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mediterranean Diet Patterns Are Positively Associated with Maximal Fat Oxidation and VO₂max in Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Leptin

by Pablo Santiago-Arriaza, Juan Corral-Pérez, Daniel Velázquez-Díaz, Alejandro Pérez-Bey, María Rebollo-Ramos, Alberto Marín-Galindo, Adrián Montes-de-Oca-García, Miguel Ángel Rosety-Rodríguez, Cristina Casals and Jesús G. Ponce-González

Nutrients 2025, 17(11), 1901; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17111901 - 31 May 2025

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Abstract

Background: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) offers multiple metabolic benefits. However, its relationship with maximal fat oxidation (MFO) and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂max), alongside the potential mediating role of leptin, remains underexplored in young adults. Objective: The objective was to investigate the associations between MedDiet adherence and the body mass index (BMI), MFO, and VO₂max and to evaluate whether leptin mediates these relationships. Methods: Sixty-five young adults (n = 23 women), aged 18–38, were assessed for body composition, MedDiet adherence (14-Item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener), MFO, and VO₂max through indirect calorimetry. Plasma leptin concentrations were measured in fasting conditions. Multiple linear regression models were performed, adjusting for sex, age, and both. Mediation analyses were conducted. Results: Higher MedDiet adherence was significantly associated with lower BMI (β = −0.339, p = 0.006) and leptin values (β = 0.284, p = 0.022) and higher absolute MFO (β = 0.338, p = 0.006) and VO₂max values (β = 0.462, p < 0.001). These associations remained significant in all models except BMI and leptin when adjusted for sex and sex and age. Leptin was positively associated with the BMI (β = 0.550, p < 0.001) and inversely associated with absolute MFO (β = −0.650, p < 0.001) in all models. There was a trend in the association between leptin and VO₂max (β = −0.233, p = 0.061) only in the unadjusted model. Mediation analysis revealed that the leptin levels significantly mediated the associations between MedDiet adherence and BMI (β = −0.358, 95% CI [−0.677, −0.077]) and VO₂max (β = 1.043, 95% CI [0.280, 1.833]). Conclusions: MedDiet adherence is associated with a lower BMI and higher MFO and VO₂max in young adults. Our findings further suggest that leptin plays a mediating role in how MedDiet adherence influences the BMI and VO₂max. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise and Fat Metabolism)

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Review

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15 pages, 653 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Impact of Physical Activity on Weight Loss in Relation to the Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine—A Narrative Review

by Natalia Niezgoda, Tomasz Chomiuk, Przemysław Kasiak, Artur Mamcarz and Daniel Śliż

Nutrients 2025, 17(6), 1095; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17061095 - 20 Mar 2025

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Abstract

Currently, overweight and obesity are key problems globally. Several modifiable factors influence weight management. The number of obese and overweight people has significantly increased over the past few decades. Therefore, it is crucial to find effective and tailored strategies for weight management in public health and medicine. It has become necessary to take a comprehensive look at the problem of obesity and the process of weight loss, taking into account various aspects of lifestyle. To date, the effectiveness of dietary interventions, training interventions, or a combination of both has been repeatedly studied, with varying results, but a combination of properly selected diet and physical activity is considered the most effective therapy. Physical activity is one of the main tools in the treatment of obesity, in part due to its direct effect on body weight by increasing energy expenditure, especially when paired with other elements of lifestyle. The effect of physical activity is broad, and to properly implement it in obesity therapy, it is necessary to understand its impact on aspects such as body composition, food intake, sleep, alcohol use, and mental state. The primary aim of this review is to present the influence of physical activity on weight loss in combination with the influence of physical activity on other pillars of lifestyle medicine in adults. The secondary aim is to present various dietary, exercise, and combined interventions on weight loss with their efficacies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise and Fat Metabolism)

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