Walking and a Low Carb Diet Could Improve Health

Men on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) often experience fatigue, loss of muscle, weight gain, and an increased risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. A small study looked at the impact of walking and a low carb diet on men on ADT.

The study included 42 men. They were randomly assigned to two groups. Men in the control group were told to maintain their same diet and exercise patterns. Men in the other group were instructed to take 30-minute walks five days a week and to eat a low carb diet (20g or less per day).

After six months, men in the walking/low carb diet group had lost a significant amount of weight, about 20 pounds, compared to men in the control group. They also had better blood test results regarding heart disease risk. However, they only had improvements in insulin resistance after three months.

The study was limited by its small sample size, with only 42 men participating. However, the authors said their results support future larger studies to assess the benefits of a low carb diet and walking for men on ADT.