Exercise
= Weight Loss for Men & Weight Maintenance for Women
A study reported, in the June 9th, 2003 issue of the Archive of
Internal Medicine, that following a regime of regular physical activity
promotes weight loss in men and prevents weight gain in women.
The
study involved walking on treadmills for 45 minutes per day, 5 days per
week. He exercise sessions were supervised and heart rate monitors were
used to ensure participants maintained a target heart rate of 75% of
maximum.
Researchers calculated that the men burned an average of 3,300
calories per week through physical activity and the women burned an
average of 2,200 calories.
At the end of 16 months, the weight of the women in the exercise group
remained the same, while women in the sedentary group gained an average
of 6 pounds. The men in the exercise group lost an average of 11
pounds. Both men and women saw a decline in visceral (belly) fat. The
visceral fat in women in the sedentary group increased.
Bright Light, Exercise and Fat Loss
Getting outdoors in the sunlight to exercise may help you lose fat. According to an article in The North American Association for the Study of Obesity, July 2007, combining moderate exercise and bright light therapy lead to an increase in fat loss over the six-week study.
Body weight decreased similarly, with moderate exercise, in both the light and non-light treatment groups. However, body fat decreased significantly in only the light-treatment group. Also reported was an improvement in mood scores with moderate exercise and light-treatment.
