Researchers study prevention of long-term weight gain

Exercise can control weight gain among women who already have a normal body mass index (BMI), but those who are already overweight need to focus more on their caloric intake in order to lose weight, a study has suggested.

The research, conducted by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, involved 34,079 healthy women who were quizzed every few years over a total period of 13 years as to how much exercise they took part in each week and how much they weighed.

On average, the women gained 5.7 lbs during the study period, but 13.3 per cent, who had a BMI lower than 25 at study start, successfully maintained their weight.

These 4,540 women were active for an average of 60 minutes a day.

“Physical activity was inversely related to weight gain only among normal-weight women; among heavier women, there was no relation, emphasising the importance of controlling caloric intake for weight maintenance in this group,” the researchers explained.

Those looking for a form of exercise that burns a high amount of calories should try PowerPlining, celebrity fitness expert Nicki Waterman claimed recently.

She said that this exercise, which involves a trampoline and a vibration plate, can burn up to 300 calories in just 20 minutes.

What’s your favourite way to burn off excess calories?