There is so much “advice” about exercise
and weight loss that it is difficult to know what will really help.
Research suggests that, contrary to popular belief, regular
gentle exercise will not help you lose weight. Here are four popular myths about exercise and weight loss,
which are still often quoted despite scientific evidence indicating that they
are simply untrue.
1. Losing weight is all about
eating less and exercising more
The reality is a little more complex than
this common assumption suggests. Not
only have studies shown that exercising more contributes very little to weight
loss, but also there is evidence that it
is more important to consider what we eat than how much, with the
Mediterranean diet proving particularly effective.
2. To lose weight
it’s best to exercise before a meal
It’s often stated that in order to lose weight, it’s best to exercise on
an empty stomach. In fact, it seems
that the
best time to exercise is after a meal, since the exercise makes you burn
more calories and also suppresses your appetite.
3. To get fit you need
to exercise for 20 minutes a day
Government health agencies frequently claim that you need 20 minutes of
exercise a day in order to stay fit. Although you need much more than that to lose weight, as
explained below, research suggests that just 10
minutes of gentle exercise a day can help you improve your fitness levels.
4. Regular aerobic
exercise will help you lose weight
Research outlined in the latest issue of What Doctors Don’t Tell You
suggests that moderate
exercise has very little effect on weight loss. In fact, it seems that unless you’re prepared to spend 60
to 90 minutes a day exercising, you are very unlikely to lose any weight. If
you are new to WDDTY, you can read this report for free by clicking
here.
If you’d like to find out more about the myths about losing weight, visit
our weight
loss archive. If you’re
interested in living healthily in general, have a look at our guide to living
longer and more healthily.
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best health journal in the world, claim
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