Physical Activity in the Pharmacotherapy of Obesity in Type 2 Diabetes

The coexistence of type 2 diabetes and obesity represents a major global health challenge that significantly increases cardiovascular and metabolic risk. While pharmacotherapy has evolved rapidly – with agents such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists – long-term success remains limited without concurrent lifestyle modification. Physical activity is a cornerstone of managing obesity in individuals with type 2 diabetes, yet its interaction with pharmacological treatments is still underexplored.

The goal of this Research Topic is to examine how physical activity and pharmacotherapy can synergistically improve metabolic control, body composition, and cardiometabolic outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity. We aim to highlight mechanistic insights, clinical evidence, and translational strategies that integrate exercise prescription with modern antidiabetic and anti-obesity medications.

Suitable themes for manuscripts include (but are not limited to):

1. Mechanistic interactions between exercise and antidiabetic or anti-obesity medications (e.g., GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, metformin).

2. Exercise-induced modulation of drug efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and metabolic targets.

3. Integrated lifestyle–pharmacotherapy interventions in diabesity management: clinical trials and real-world evidence.

4. Effects of exercise on appetite, energy balance, and weight regulation in patients receiving pharmacological treatment.

5. Exercise and cardiovascular risk reduction in the context of combined pharmacological and lifestyle therapy.

6. Optimizing exercise prescription (type, intensity, timing) to complement pharmacological regimens.

7. Molecular and endocrine mechanisms linking muscle metabolism, adipose tissue, and incretin action.

8. Barriers and facilitators to adherence when combining pharmacotherapy with exercise programs.

9. Digital and behavioral tools supporting physical activity engagement in patients under pharmacotherapy.

10. Future directions: personalized, precision approaches integrating pharmacology, exercise physiology, and data-driven health monitoring.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Diabesity;, physical activity;, exercise prescription, metabolic health, antidiabetic drugs, GLP-1 receptor agonists, insulin sensitivity, body composition, lifestyle interventions

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.