Exercise For Weight Loss Is Inefficient - Position Statement

"Exercise" is touted as a means to lose weight.

Exercise for weight loss involves burning more Calories than are consumed.

For weight loss, "exercise" is extremely inefficient. Efficiency is considered as results per time spent.

It is generally considered that, on average, 100 Calories are burned per mile traveled by foot.

For the overweight, unfit person, changing into exercise clothes, travel to the exercise location, performing the exercise, showering, changing back into street clothes and traveling back can easily take 60 - 90 minutes.

Substituting a sugar-free soda or water for a soda with sugar can save 120 - 150 Calories and takes no time at all.

Caloric intake control is clearly more efficient as a means to control weight than exercise.

NAAAFP stands in support of caloric intake control as the primary means to control weight.

Exercise For Weight Loss Is Inefficient - Advocacy Letter

Dear (insert name of recipient here),

Exercise for weight loss involves burning more Calories than are consumed.

Exercise is recommended as a means to losing weight.

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS (from: http://www.health.gov/DietaryGuidelines/dga2005/document/html/chapter4.htm)

·        Engage in regular physical activity and reduce sedentary activities to promote health, psychological well-being, and a healthy body weight.

·        To reduce the risk of chronic disease in adulthood: Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, above usual activity, at work or home on most days of the week.

·        For most people, greater health benefits can be obtained by engaging in physical activity of more vigorous intensity or longer duration.

·        To help manage body weight and prevent gradual, unhealthy body weight gain in adulthood: Engage in approximately 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity on most days of the week while not exceeding caloric intake requirements.

·        To sustain weight loss in adulthood: Participate in at least 60 to 90 minutes of daily moderate-intensity physical activity while not exceeding caloric intake requirements. Some people may need to consult with a healthcare provider before participating in this level of activity.

Some experts believe that exercise may be the sole effective intervention leading to weight reduction. (see, http://mann.bol.ucla.edu/files/Diets_don't_work.pdf)

Americans are busy. (from: http://www.upenn.edu/oip/iss/handbook/like.html)

“Americans also tend to believe they should be doing something most of the time. You will often hear Americans talk about how busy they are, which often is true, but also is simply expected. To not be busy, since everyone is busy, may be considered rather strange.”

Exercise takes time. Lots of time (see “Key Recommendations,” above.).

Time Americans claim they do not have: (from: Obesity 14:2259-2265 (2006))

The results of a recent study “suggest that daily minutes spent in moderate-intensity activity or greater are associated with weight status and that the 2002 IOM recommendations may be difficult to meet even for normal-weight individuals.”

Promoting exercise, which is time-consuming and inefficient, as a primary means of weight control is a losing strategy.

I stand in favor of caloric intake control as the primary means for weight control.

I expect the following from you:

A clear and immediate public declaration that you do not support exercise as a primary means of weight control

A clear and immediate public declaration that you do support caloric intake control as the primary means of weight control

Thank you for your attention to this important, life-saving matter.