Comments on: Thanksgiving resolution – year 4

By: Happy Hospitalist

Happy Hospitalist — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:58:59 +0000

Congratulations on using exercise to help you lose weight. It takes a life long devotion and dedication. As for the traveling. Did you know the Westin brand hotels are now offering an upgrade option with in room treadmills.
Now you have no excuse when you travel.

By: AnnR

AnnR — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:13:12 +0000

Got a new playlist for the new resolution year?

By: rcentor

rcentor — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:11:59 +0000

Oh Dino. I know that exercise without dietary discretion does not work. I also know that a strong exercise program is part of my successful weight loss programs.

If you exercise vigorously and do not increase calorie intake, you will lose weight. Many people exercise and then eat more.

But my post was mostly about exercise and not about weight loss. At least you gave me a chance to rant some more.

By: #1 Dinosaur

#1 Dinosaur — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:22:48 +0000

Oh dear. Exercise to promote weight loss: another idea the evidence has shown to be false. (Link) I’m surprised to see you, of all people, promoting such a discredited notion.

The fallacy, of course, is believing that if exercise doesn’t lead to weight loss then there’s no reason to do it. There are many excellent, scientifically documented benefits of exercise, including decreased mortality from cardiovascular fitness, enhanced well-being, and so on. Unfortunately, weight loss by itself is not a direct result of exercise alone.

Kind of like the flawed premise that preventive care saves money. The fact that it does not still doesn’t mean it is not a good idea. Just don’t expect it to save money. Likewise, encouraging exercise is a worthy endeavor, but don’t expect it to result in weight loss by itself.

It turns out what I’ve been telling my patients for years is probably right: The only way to lose weight is to eat less, but the only way to keep it off is to exercise.