Is Weight Loss Without Exercise Unethical?
Only around 24% of US adults are currently meeting physical activity guidelines [1].
This is so unfortunate because exercise, even independent of weight loss, has the potential to increase energy levels and muscle mass, stabilize blood sugar, and improve one’s metabolic health. [2-6]
Weight loss comes from a caloric deficit [7]. However, because high levels of exercise may be one of the most critical components for maintaining weight loss long-term [8-10], having some form of exercise on board seems to be an absolute must.
Additionally, without exercise, weight lost from dieting could be 22-46% muscle depending on your initial body composition and rate of weight loss [11-14]!