Hour of exercise needed to keep weight off
PITTSBURGH (UPI) -- Overweight or obese women may need 55 minutes of exercise a day five days weekly to sustain a weight loss of 10 percent over two years, U.S. researchers say.
John M. Jakicic of the University of Pittsburgh and colleagues enrolled 201 overweight and obese women in a weight-loss intervention from 1999-2003. All the women were told to eat 1,200-1,500 calories per day. They were then assigned to one of four groups based on physical activity amount -- burning 1,000 calories versus 2,000 calories per week and intensity -- moderate versus vigorous.
After six months, women in all four groups had lost an average of 8 percent to 10 percent of their initial body weight. However, most weren't able to sustain this weight loss.
The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found 25 percent of individuals who did maintain a loss of 10 percent or more over two years reported performing more physical activity -- an average of 1,835 calories per week or 275 minutes per week over the baseline level of activity -- than those who lost less weight.
Source:
Health and Fitness
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