A well-balanced diet combined or not with exercise induces fat mass loss without any decrease of bone mass despite bone micro-architecture alterations in obese rat

► We studied the impact of a well-balanced diet and exercise on the skeleton of obese rat. ► Both diet and exercise had decreased weight and fat mass of obese rats. ► The diet alone did not alter bone mass and BMD despite micro-architecture changes. ► Exercise improved BMD of the tibia through an inhibition of bone resorption. ► A balanced diet with exercise is effective to treat obesity and protect bone mass.