Birdseye: Health Tips from the Blogosphere : weight loss

Four myths about exercise and weight loss

Birdseye — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:43:00 GMT

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.

To find out why What Doctors Don’t Tell You is described by many as the best health journal in the world, claim your free trial issue now.

Exercise tips

Birdseye — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:05:00 GMT

While my fellow Blogger at Adverse Reactions prefers to tell the horror stories of the pharmaceutical industry, I have been trawling the web looking for more positive messages from the health community. WDDTY has recently reported that you need less exercise than you think to stay fit and that the best time to exercise is after a meal, so I have been keeping my eye out for any other useful tips about exercise.

The web community has much to say about the role of exercise in combatting specific health problems. Although the role of exercise in treating arthritis has been known for some time, one recent article provides a helpful summary of the main health benefits of exercise for arthritis sufferers. Meanwhile, another report indicates that the amount and intensity of physical activity undertaken by cancer sufferers can play a vital role in their recovery and elimination of future symptoms.

As we have previously reported, regular exercise is crucial to maintaining your physical and mental health, and has been shown to improve longevity. Our recent news item indicating that you only need 10 minutes of exercise a day should reassure those for whom the thought of hours in the gym is a daunting one. But if motivation is still an issue, have a look at this blog post countering the main excuses by those who do not exercise. Another motivational message worth having a look at is '10 Ideas to Get You Exercising'.

If, like me, you find treadmills and exercise bikes a little boring, you should definitely have a look at Starlight's account of the 'Health Benefits of Belly Dance'. This informative post tells us how raks sharki, or belly dancing, is based on natural movements and so does not work against "the body's physical inclinations" like some other dance forms can. Starlight provides detailed information on the other health benefits of this particular form of exercise, which include improved posture and muscle toning, weight loss and stress reduction. It is also good preparation for childbirth, and can aid digestion. You can't get much better than that.