New Study Finds Amount of Exercise Needed for Weight Loss

According to a new study, published on the leading medical journal Archives of Internal Medicine, the amount of exercise needed for weight loss have been found to be 55 minutes a day for 5 days a week. This represents an increase form previous recommendations that were set at 30 min a day for a total of 150 min a week.

Currently medical personnel, nutritionist, and exercise experts suggest exercising at least 5 times a day for 30 minutes. However, a increasing number of professionals have noted the these 30 minutes a day seem not to be enough for sustained weight loss.

Because of this, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, led by John M. Jakicic, designed and performed a study to find the optimal amount of time needed for sustained weight loss. The study enrolled more than 200 obese women in a period that ranged from 1999 to 2003.

All the women were instructed to have a diet with 1,200 and 1,500 calories per day. They were also assigned to physical activities groups (4 in total). Groups were built based on amount of physical activity (2 groups: one with 1000 calories per week of exercise, the other 2000 calories per week) and physical exercise intensity (moderate or vigorous). These women were followed through focus meetings and telephone calls over a two-year period.

The study found that after 2 years women lost an average of 5% of initial weight with no significant difference between the exercise groups. However, about a 25% of women who lost 10% of their initial weight loss reported to exercise an average of 1,835 calories per week, which represent 275 minutes per week. If you divide this amount by five days you get an amount of exercise of 55 minutes per day (5 days a week).

According to the new study this clarifies the amount of physical activity needed to sustain weight loss in the long run. However, it also shows how difficult is for obese patient to achieve such desired weight loss goals. If previously 30 minutes a day was difficult to achieve and sustain, imagine now that this standard has been increased to 55 minutes peer day.