Exercise with or without dietary restriction and obesity treatment.

If short term weight loss is the main treatment objective, it is clear that exercise does not give any success. Dietary restriction can potentially induce much faster rates of weight loss. Adding exercise and especially weight training, to a diet-induced weight loss programme induces small improvements in the change in FFM/FM and possible RMR after a relatively long period. Exercise treatment alone is an option for longterm treatment with relatively small changes in body weight and body composition. Especially in obese subjects energy intake and expenditure compensation does not occur. Although it is not the scope of this review exercise seems to be the ideal option for successful maintenance of a reduced body weight.