The Role of Nutritional Interventions and Exercise for Weight Loss
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Obesity".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2026 | Viewed by 21
Special Issue Editors
Interests: physical activity; obesity; weight management; body composition assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: nutrition and dietetics; exercise physiology; food nutritional balance; sports science and exercise; biomedical and clinical sciences; public health; health promotion allied health and rehabilitation science (not elsewhere classified)
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Nutritional interventions and exercise play a crucial role in weight loss by addressing both energy intake and expenditure. Dietary modifications are fundamental as they influence metabolism, satiety, and overall health and well-being. Reducing energy intake while maintaining nutrient density—including adequate protein, fibre and healthy fats—helps reduce fat mass while preserving lean mass and increasing satiety. However, compliance to a habitual healthy diet that supports sustained weight management remains elusive for a large proportion of the population.
Regular lifestyle physical activity and structured exercise enhances weight loss by increasing energy expenditure and metabolic rate. Aerobic activities, including walking, cycling, and swimming, are important for energy expenditure, while resistance training preserves lean muscle mass and functional strength, critical for weight maintenance. Physical activity also helps promote hormonal balance, improve insulin sensitivity and reduce stress-related accumulation of excess body weight.
A combination of nutrition and exercise leads to more effective and sustainable weight management compared to either approach alone. Long-term adherence to healthy eating and activity behaviours is key. Stress management and sleep quality also impact weight regulation and body composition. A personalised approach to weight management that integrates dietary adjustments, physical activity engagement, exercise routines, and behavioural strategies may enable best outcomes for weight loss and overall health and well-being.
Given the continued global prevalence of obesity and chronic diseases, this Special Issue seeks novel investigations into the impact of nutritional and physical activity/exercise interventions—whether implemented independently or in combination—to improve body composition and overall health.
Prof. Dr. Andrew P. Hills
Prof. Dr. Nuala M. Byrne
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- aerobic
- body composition
- diet
- energy expenditure
- exercise
- nutrition
- physical activity
- resistance training
- weight loss
- weight maintenance
- weight management
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