Study reveals molecular pathway by which intense exercise promotes weight loss

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"When you try to lose weight by eating less, your body tends to resist by slowing its metabolism and ramping up the hunger pangs. This is why diets fail so often. But people who maintain long-term weight loss almost invariably exercise, and a new study from scientists at Scripps Research reveals key molecular details of this weight loss-enhancing effect. ...

engineered mice to overexpress a gene called CRCT2. This gene is among those activated by intense or new exertion, and it is known to account for many of the fitness benefits of high-intensity interval workouts.

The scientists found that by boosting CRCT2 they also could powerfully counter the metabolism-slowing, hunger-boosting effects of fasting in mice, allowing the animals to lose more weight compared to mice who lacked the extra CRCT2 activity. ..."

From the abstract:

"... Crtc2 overexpression led to greater weight loss during alternate day fasting (ADF), selective loss of fat rather than lean mass, maintenance of higher energy expenditure during the fast and reduced binge-eating during the feeding period. ..."

Study reveals molecular pathway by which intense exercise promotes weight loss Boosting the activity of one gene in the muscles of mice powerfully enhances their ability to lose weight with fasting.

Activation of Crtc2/Creb1 in skeletal muscle enhances weight loss during intermittent fasting (open access)