Diet Outperforms Exercise In Achieving Weight Loss Goals

NORWALK, Conn. – Ever notice that you often get hungry after exercising? That is your body telling you it needs to replenish the calories that you just burned. While exercise is important to good health, diet is much more important when it comes to achieving weight loss.

While exercise is important to a healthy lifestyle, diet and proper eating are more successful in achieving weight loss goals.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Tom Renner

Content Partner: AFC Urgent Care Norwalk

Exercise has its benefits, but people should not solely rely on it to lose weight. According to a story in the New York Times last year, the percentage of people who were “sufficiently active” increased from 2001 to 2009, while the percentage of obese Americans also increased.

Studies have also analyzed the relationship between physical activity and fat mass in children, and exercise is not the key factor in determining whether a child is at an unhealthy weight, the Times story said. Abby Greenspun, a registered dietician in Westport, says, ”exercise is more important when it comes to maintaining your desired weight, but to lose weight, most people need to change their diets”.

While calorie counting can be helpful, the better answer to weight control is to monitor what you eat. Certain foods can increase the feeling of feeling fullness after a meal and boost the metabolic rate. In contrast, weight loss can actually slow one’s metabolism.

The bottom line is that all calories are not equal; for example protein intake cause you to get full and build muscle, while eating snacks with high fructose corn syrup do not satisfy one’s hunger. Another example is eating eggs for breakfast rather than bagels or breads. The protein tends to reduce your hunger, and recent studies have indicated that the cholesterol in eggs is not as bad as previously thought.

Make no mistake; a regular workout routine is absolutely an important part in improving overall health and emotional wellness. Dr. Mark Wasserman, M.D., medical director at AFC Doctors Express Norwalk, commented, “When people ask me how they can lose weight, I usually give them a diabetic diet. It is actually a healthy menu that is low in carbohydrates and sugars. It will lower insulin levels, and cause the body to burn fat, rather than store it."

Counting on exercise alone for weight management, however, is a not an effective solution for people struggling with obesity. If folks spent more time eating better foods or cooking more often, they might see better results.