Losing weight can improve blood sugar regulation, cardiovascular health and several other important aspects of well-being. However, maintaining these improvements becomes more challenging when some of the lost weight returns.

A study published in the scientific journal Obesity examined how women's health changed during the year following a structured weight-loss programme.

Researchers discovered that certain metabolic benefits gradually weakened, while others remained measurable, particularly among women who participated in resistance training.

The findings offer valuable insights into the relationship between weight management, exercise and long-term disease prevention.

How Researchers Studied Weight Loss

The investigation involved 221 healthy, previously inactive premenopausal women with a body mass index (BMI) between 27 and 30.

Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: dietary changes alone, diet combined with aerobic exercise, or diet combined with resistance training.

All participants followed a medically supervised, very-low-calorie diet until their BMI fell below 25. Those in the exercise groups completed structured workouts during weight loss and were encouraged to continue exercising afterwards.

Researchers assessed their predicted ten-year risk of developing type 2 diabetes and experiencing major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes.

What Happened After One Year?

At the beginning of the study, participants had an average BMI of 28.3. Following weight loss, this figure decreased to 23.9.

However, maintaining the lower weight proved difficult. One year later, the average BMI had increased to 25.8, indicating that participants had regained some of the weight they initially lost.

This allowed scientists to examine whether the improvements in metabolic health persisted despite partial weight regain.

Heart Health Benefits Gradually Faded

Weight loss initially produced a significant reduction in predicted cardiovascular risk across all three groups.

During the following year, however, these improvements weakened as participants regained weight.

By the end of the study, researchers found no statistically significant overall reduction in predicted cardiovascular risk compared with the initial measurements.

Importantly, the investigation measured estimated future risk rather than actual heart attacks or strokes.

Strength Training Showed Promise

The results were more encouraging for type 2 diabetes risk. All three groups experienced significant improvements immediately after losing weight. However, only the women assigned to resistance training maintained a statistically significant reduction compared with their original risk levels one year later.

According to lead researcher Abdelrahman M. Elshakankiry and colleagues, the findings suggest that continuing structured exercise after weight loss may help limit the rebound in predicted diabetes risk. They also indicate that resistance training deserves further investigation as a possible strategy for preserving metabolic improvements.

Nevertheless, differences between the exercise groups were not statistically significant, meaning the study could not establish that resistance training was definitively more effective than the other approaches.

Why Regular Exercise Matters

Researchers also examined participants' exercise habits after the supervised programme ended.

Women who maintained higher levels of physical activity generally experienced smaller increases in their predicted diabetes risk.

This association suggests that continued exercise may help preserve metabolic benefits even when body weight fluctuates. However, participation became less consistent during the follow-up period, highlighting the challenges of maintaining structured routines independently.

What The Findings Mean For Women

The study demonstrates that improvements in metabolic health can change over time, particularly when weight is regained. It also highlights the potential importance of regular physical activity in supporting long-term health. However, the research involved a specific population of healthy premenopausal women, and fewer participants completed the later assessments. The findings may therefore differ for older adults, men or people with existing metabolic conditions.

The restrictive diet used during the investigation also required medical supervision and should not be attempted without professional guidance.

Ultimately, the results reinforce the value of sustainable lifestyle habits. Balanced nutrition, regular exercise and personalised medical support may help maintain health improvements over time, even when weight management becomes challenging.