Losing weight is successfully accomplished by putting ourselves into a negative energy balance, that is burning more calories than we consume. This negative energy balance can be achieved by lowering caloric intake, increasing calories burned or both. While this sounds simple, it is difficult for many of us to achieve. Part of the reason for this difficulty might be the complexity of effects that exercise has on our body.
A story in the New York Times does a nice job of discussing some of the science behind the effect of exercise on our bodies and how this might impact weight loss. Some of the points discussed are outlined briefly below.
Differences Between Men & Women: Some studies suggest that when men exercised for 90 minutes, their appetites were suppressed. In contrast, at least one study suggests that exercise caused changes that increased appetite in women, theoretically to maintain body stores for reproduction.
Maintaining Weight Loss: A recent study suggests that exercise might be most important for weight maintenance once we've reached our weight loss goals. According to the results from the National Weight Control Registry, the vast majority of the people who successfully kept the weight off exercised regularly.
Overall, the science explored in the New York Times article suggests that exercise is still an important part of a healthy lifestyle. However, the research indicates that exercise might effect men and women differently, which can have an impact on weight loss strategies. Additionally, it is becoming more clear that once a person's excess weight has been lost, exercise might be one of the most critical components of keeping it off.
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Thank you for the comment. I agree completely that healthy eating is an important part of developing a healthier lifestyle!
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