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Time bomb
Magazine downplays exercise
Tulsans have plenty of options for exercise — but a Time magazine report this week stated it might not affect weight loss. World file photo
By CARY ASPINWALL World Scene Writer
Published: 8/13/2009 3:37 AM
Last Modified: 9/10/2009 2:32 PM
Time magazine stirred up controversy this week with a cover story claiming that exercise won't make you lose weight.
Health-care and fitness professionals who counsel patients to lose weight through exercise and healthy eating were scratching their heads: What was Time thinking?
The article makes several claims: that people who exercise more tend to eat more calorie-laden food to reward themselves for their efforts, that our self-control to eat healthier is weakened by increased exercise, that vigorous exercise isn't much better for us than lots of daily activity.
Author John Cloud warns in the final graph: "Fiery spurts of vigorous exercise could lead to weight gain."
While it's true that if you eat excess calories after exercise you won't lose much weight, the article is misleading regarding the importance of exercise, said Dr. Robin Dyer, chair of the department of Osteopathic and Manipulative Medicine at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences.
"An exercise program has to be a part of the equation for weight loss," Dyer said. "You need to exercise for cardiovascular health and mental health, and exercise is crucial to strengthen and build muscles and joints. But the article purposely avoided focusing on those aspects."
Burn, baby
To lose weight, you have to burn more calories than you eat. Which means you can't reward every workout with a muffin or large, calorie-laden Starbucks beverage, Dyer said.
But the most successful weight-loss programs, she said, focus on teaching people how to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight by eating nutritious foods and making exercise a part of your life. And some of the studies cited in the article simply focus on weight loss — which can be a superficial measure when not factoring in body fat percentage and the density of muscle versus fat.
Gini McFarland, an exercise physiologist at Hillcrest Exercise and Lifestyle Program, found out about the article after receiving an e-mail from the American College of Sports Medicine.
"I thought, 'How am I going to explain this to my patients?' " McFarland said. "It's frustrating. I don't really think his research is all that credible — it's weak. And it's giving people who already don't have the drive to exercise a way to sit back and think, 'I'm not going to exercise — it's not going to help me.' "
The ACSM has refuted most of the claims made by Time's article, such as: "In general, for weight loss, exercise is pretty useless." One of its members who was interviewed for the Time article, Dr. Timothy Church, has stated that his professional opinions were "misrepresented."
Added bonus
Most research shows that exercise and physical activity are a huge component of weight loss —but they're also important for lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, reducing the risk of diabetes, osteoporosis and depression, McFarland said. And the reality is, most people will gain weight if they do not exercise regularly.
"(Cloud) talks about his exercise habits in the article — what would happen to him if he didn't exercise at all?" McFarland asked. "It's irresponsible."
Jonathan Conneely, founder of Bootcamp Tulsa, has helped plenty of people lose weight through his intense, four-week exercise program. The average weight loss among participants is about eight to 12 pounds, but some clients have lost as much as 40 to 120 pounds.
"Exercise alone will help you lose a little weight, but you need a complete package with exercise and nutrition," Conneely said. "You can exercise all day and not lose weight if you're doing the wrong program."
Exercise doesn't give you a free pass to eat unlimited junk food, he said, but the benefits go way beyond simply looking good.
"You can't dog exercise, because it's a lot more than just the physical benefits," he said. "You're increasing your strength and toning, lifting your mood. It helps you sleep better, it helps people feel better about themselves and helps treat depression. What about the improved quality of life?"
Cary Aspinwall 581-8477
cary.aspinwall@tulsaworld.com
By CARY ASPINWALL World Scene Writer
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