Fat That Hurts You
How much fat you lose while dieting is not necessarily as important as what kind, according to researchers at the University of Washington. And dieting may not be the best way to lose it, either.
Authors of the study recommend worrying more about "central" fat, the kind that causes a large, round trunk, because that kind of fat has been linked to heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. A fat rump and thighs may not look nice, but apparently they don't pose as much danger to your health.
To lose that central fat, the researchers recommend exercise over dieting, pointing to a study of older men that showed those who exercised had to lose only a quarter of the weight lost by those who dieted, in order to shed the same amount of central fat.
And if it's easier to lose, it's easier to keep off, especially since exercise increases the metabolic rate, letting the body burn calories faster. Dieting causes the body to burn calories more slowly, which is why dieters often regain weight so quickly.
The doctors caution that an exercise program needn't be particularly strenuous. Walking a few extra blocks to work every day or taking the steps instead of the elevator is probably a sufficient increase for people who don't exercise at all. The benefits of going from none to a little exercise, they say, far outweigh those of going from a little to a lot.
As always, it is recommended that you consult your physician before beginning any exercise regimen.
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