Exercise plus weight loss key to cutting obesity risk

December 24, 2004

Regular exercise alone is not enough to cut the risk of death from obesity, according to new research.

The study which followed 116,000 nurses over 24 years was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and found that a twin process of exercise and weight loss is the key to lowering the risk of dieing from obesity.

Obese women who work out for 3.5 hours per week have a death rate 91 per cent higher than lean women who exercise for the same amount of time, according to the study, yet this figure rises to 142 per cent for obese women who do minimal exercise, thus underlining the importance of regular exercise.

Lean women who only exercise for 3.5 hours per week or less also increase their risk of premature death from obesity and by 55 per cent compared to more active females.

These findings were summed up by lead author Dr Frank Hu, who said: "If you are overweight or obese, exercise is good for you even if you don't lose weight.

"For people who are lean and sedentary, it's really important for them to get out of the couch and exercise, even if they don't have to lose weight."

Professor Neil Armstrong, from the Children's Health and Exercise Research Centre in Exeter, told the BBC that as obesity is linked to a range of diseases, it is crucial that the problem is tackled.

"If you really want to do something about obesity, it really needs to be a two-fold process, which includes aerobic exercise and a reduction in energy intake.

Source:www.medicalnewstoday.com