Light exercise over time is key to stability

Posted November 12, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Denise Musumeci

Section: In The News, His Health, Physical Health, Lifestyle Health

Slacking off can have devastating effects on your weight. Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine stated last week that maintaining a high level of activity from young adulthood to middle age can help people maintain a stable weight and accumulate less weight over time.

Northwestern conducted an analysis about weight gain and found that people who report doing 30 minutes of vigorous activity a day were twice as likely to have a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) over a period of 20 years. Body Mass Index is a measure of body fat according to weight and height. According to Healthatoz.com, a BMI of 18.5 or lower is considered underweight. A normal BMI ranges between 18.5 and 24.9, while the 25.0-29.9 ranges are thought to be overweight. A Body Mass Index of over 30 is considered obese, which doctors warn is a risk factor for heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Researchers at Northwestern University analyzed the data from over 2,600 participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study to determine if high activity patterns over time can help maintain a stable BMI. Participants in the CARDIA study ranged between 18 and 30 when the study began and were followed for 20 years. Arlene Hankinson, an instructor in preventive medicine at the Feinberg School hopes that the results of the study will encourage young people to take care of themselves and help fight obesity.

To find out your Body Mass Index, visit http://www.healthatoz.com and enter your height and weight. For help with diet and weight management, see your doctor for more information.

Research sources and for more information: [Medical News Today]; [Healthatoz.com]; [picture]