Health advantages of diet, exercise are compared

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Exercise offers extra benefits for health compared to calorie restriction.
Both diet and exercise are important factors in weight loss and most experts recommend a combination of the two to shed the pounds and keep them off. In an intriguing new study, researchers at Saint Louis University do a direct comparison of the impact of diet and exercise as a way of losing weight.

A group of 34 participants either reduced their calorie consumption or increased their energy expenditure through exercise. Their goal was to reduce calories by 16 per cent in the first three months, then by 20 per cent for the next nine months. The exercisers burned 16 per cent more calories in the first three months, then 20 per cent for the next nine months.

Both groups lost about ten per cent of their body weight - a significant achievement in terms of improving health. But the exercisers also increased their muscle mass, strength and aerobic capacity. The dieters actually lost muscle mass, which is not a good thing. So exercise may be the best overall way of losing weight. However, the researchers warn that diet is important - exercisers should not start eating more as this will wipe out the weight loss benefits of increased energy expenditure.

Source
Journal of Applied Physiology online 16th November 2006

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