HHS HealthBeat (March 24, 2009)

Going for Quality

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Losing weight can be a good thing, if you’re overweight. And being more active is one way to burn more calories. But suppose you’re more active and you don’t lose much weight. Is the workout work worth it?

One researcher thinks so. Corby Martin of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana studied overweight postmenopausal women who increased their activity.

The women lost some weight, generally no more than about 4 pounds. But their quality of life improved – things like how they felt physically and emotionally, their energy levels, and their ability to do ordinary activities in daily life.

And, says Martin, it’s doable:

[Corby Martin speaks] "The intensity and amount of exercise achieved during this study is attainable by most women." 

The study in Archives of Internal Medicine was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: March, 25 2009