A recent study supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (part of the National Institutes of Health) shows that women trying to lose weight can benefit as much from a moderate physical activity as from an intense workout.
While previous studies covered short-term aspects of exercise effectiveness, research has been lacking on the subject of the optimal degree and amount of physical activity for long-term weight loss.
The study appeared in the September 10, 2003, issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. The exercise dose and intensity trial involved 201 overweight but otherwise healthy women ages 21-45. All received reduced calorie meals in addition to being randomly assigned to one of four physical activity regimens, which varied by intensity and duration.
The regimens consisted of either a moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity performed for either a shorter (2 ½ to 3 ½ hours per week) or longer (3 ½ to 5 hours per week) duration. The physical activity consisted primarily of brisk walking, and the regimens used about 1,000 or 2,000 kcal per week.
At the end of the study, women in all four groups lost a significant amount of weight ( as much as 13 to 20 pounds). Even more importantly, they had maintained their weight loss once a year had passed. They also improved their cardiorespiratory fitness. However, the amount of weight lost or fitness improvement was not different among the four groups.
Article created: September 17, 2003
Last updated: February 1, 2006
