Heart Health With Minimal Weight Loss
August 31, 2007 by Claire
Filed under Women's Health
In the news: You don’t necessarily have to be thin to be fit. A study of 400 overweight, sedentary women who exercised daily (as little as a brisk walk) for six months showed that they reduced their risk for a heart attack. Their aerobic fitness improved and their waistlines got smaller – without any weight loss (AOL Body).
As I’ve written in previous posts, having excess weight around your waist will increase your risk for a heart attack. Exercise has been proven to decrease this kind of fat (visceral fat). That includes weight-lifting, which has the same beneficial effects as cardio on fat loss.
If you’re looking to be healthier and fitter, weight loss isn’t a must – just incorporate some daily exercise. Your heart will thank you for it!
Claire
What constitutes a sedentary person who exercises?
Sorry, that wasn’t worded very clearly – they were sedentary before they participated in the study.