[Iran Press TV Latest] While half an hour of exercise for at least five days per week is recommended for health reasons, a new study says individuals should exercise more to avoid weight gain. According to the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, an hour of moderate exercise per day is needed to fight the flab in women.
The more a normal-weighted woman exercises, the less weight she will gain in the long run, suggesting that the amount of physical activity plays a critical role in the prevention of weight gain.
There is, however, no such an association in women already suffering from overweight or obesity, the study found.
"Once overweight, it may be too late because physical activity - at least, at levels carried out by study participants - was not associated with less weight gain," said lead researcher I-Min Lee.
Scientists stressed that exercising should be accompanied with a healthy diet in order to be more effective.
"As part of the Change4Life movement, adults are being encouraged to make simple changes, such as eating more fruit and veg[tables], cutting down on fatty foods and being more active, in their diet and lifestyle which will help them lead longer, healthier lives - and lose that unwanted spare tyre," Lee added.