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July 22, 2025
Protein and resistance training improves weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes
A high-protein diet with resistance exercise training improves weight loss and body composition in overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes. The study was designed to evaluate the effects of two isocaloric energy-restricted low-fat diets differing in the carbohydrate-to-protein ratio. Subjects followed the diets with or without supervised resistance training three days a week. Outcome measures included body weight and composition, waist circumference and cardiovascular risk factors.
A total of 83 men and women with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to either a standard carbohydrate or high protein diet, with or without exercise training for 16 weeks. The standard carbohydrate diet had 53% of energy from carbohydrate, 19% from protein and 26% from fat. The high protein diet had 43% of energy from carbohydrate, 33% from protein and 22% from fat. Both diets were energy-restricted with daily intakes of 1433 calories (6 MJ/day) for female subjects and 1672 (7 MJ/day) for male subjects. The protein content of both diets was within the acceptable macronutrient distribution range for adults, which is 10 to 35% of total energy from protein.
The greatest reductions in body weight, fat mass and waist circumference were observed in subjects following the high protein diet combined with resistance training. All four treatment groups benefited from similar improvements in glycemic control and cardiovascular disease risk markers including blood pressure, glucose, insulin, A1C, triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.
For Your Practice
Overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes may achieve a greater weight loss, more favourable changes in body composition with a higher protein, low-fat energy restricted diet combined with regular supervised resistance training (3 days per week). This type of diet and exercise plan may also lead to important improvements in glycemic control and cardiovascular disease markers.
Want to Learn More?
To read the study abstract, “A high-protein diet with resistance exercise training improves weight loss and body composition in overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes” by Wycherley TP et al. Diabetes Care 2010; 33(5):969-76, Click here.
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