Moderate exercise prevents middle-aged spread

June 5, 2001 in Nutrition Topics in the News, Sports Nutrition and Exercise, Weight Management

Moderate exercise prevents middle-aged spread

A study of 8,800 middle-aged men presented at the 11th European Congress on Obesity showed walking or cycling to work can help people prevent weight gain, shed excess weight and keep fit.

The study from the Laboratory of Epidemiology and Public Health in Strasbourg confirmed that moderate physical activity, for example jogging, during free time is connected to lesser weight, a smaller waist size and a slower weight gain.

The researchers found that regularly walking or cycling to work helped the men, who were 50 to 59 years old, reduce their body mass index (BMI) as well as their waistline over 5 years.

BMI, a standard measure to determine obesity, is calculated using weight and height. A BMI of more than 25 is considered overweight, and more than 30 is obese. Use Leslie's Body Mass Index Calculator to determine your BMI.

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