HOW LITTLE IS ENOUGH???

Happy April Everyone!

Interesting article in the Times last week.  Researchers carried out a study to see how much physical activity women needed to avoid gaining weight as they got older.  While the article may sound encouraging to the predominately sedentary, the ambiguity of the study gave me pause.

How Much Exercise Prevents Weight Gain?

What is “normal” weight (readers should be aware that the groups were separated by BMI, not just by the scale reading.)?

How did the researchers not take diet into account?  Weight loss based on the activities mentioned will be dependent on caloric intake versus caloric expenditure.  Simply asking the participants to maintain a “normal diet” doesn’t seem efficient in my opinion.

Finally, in the fitness world, is it satisfactory to encourage people to do as little as possible?  “Every little bit counts” is much different than, “Do just what you need to get by”.  This is certainly pertinent for physical therapists with clients whose excessive weight may be inhibiting their healing process.  As both a therapist and scientist, isn’t it a PT’s job to explain how in those cases weight loss can physically improve the client’s chances of recovery?

Maybe I am being too harsh.  Let me know what you think.