US media reports that pronouncements about the need for increased physical activity are ubiquitous. The importance of exercise for weight management is reinforced as people complain that the disappearance of physical education classes in schools is contributing to the obesity epidemic. However, a June 15 report on the New York Times website states that while exercise has many benefits, relying solely on it for weight control is problematic.
In the adult population, US interventional studies have failed to demonstrate that those who actively engage in exercise are less likely to gain weight compared to those who do not. Furthermore, exercise can increase appetite.
In the long run, other metabolic changes may offset the expected benefits of exercise in terms of weight loss. When you lose weight, your metabolism typically slows down. Many people believe that exercise can counteract or even reverse this trend. However, research shows that the resting metabolic rate of all dieters slows significantly, regardless of whether they exercise. This is why weight loss, which may seem easy at first, becomes more difficult over time.
