Forget about being fat and just get fit!

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Forget about being fat and just get fit!

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=21217

Researchers in Britain say that obese people can become healthier

without losing weight.

The researchers from Leeds Metropolitan University and the

University of Hull, say women who are clinically obese don't need to

diet to improve their health, they just need to become more active.

The team produced a programme which encouraged women not to diet but

to take part in exercise classes and also taught them about good

eating habits, such as how to cook, and they also provided them with

social support.

The researchers found within a year all the women showed significant

improvements in health and mental well-being and although they had

only lost a little weight they were significantly fitter and happier

with themselves.

The team say a healthy lifestyle can improve health risks regardless

of weight.

For the study 62 women aged 24 to 55 years, all with a Body Mass

Index (BMI) of over 30, which is classed as clinically obese, took

part in four hours a week of exercise, such as Tai Chi, aqua

aerobics or circuit classes.

The programme also included educational sessions to teach them how

to read food labels and cook food, and behavioural therapy to help

the women respond to body cues such as hunger and feeling full.

One of the exercises used by the dietician encouraged the

participants to eat a chocolate bar in small portions over the

course of a week.

The women were encouraged not to diet and to eat whatever they

wanted in moderation.

Even though the women only lost a small amount of weight, they were

significantly fitter and blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol

fell and respiratory fitness improved.

The women also felt better in terms of general well-being, body

image, self-perception and stress.

Dr. Borkoles, an exercise psychologist at Leeds Metropolitan

University says health professionals needed to shift their focus

from weight loss to helping people become healthier.

Dr. Borkoles says it is important people are not set up to fail and

she suggests that obese and overweight people should be advised to

change the way they eat rather than go on a diet.

The programme, which was set up with Leeds City Council was

sustainable as the women were taught skills which meant they could

take part in exercise classes and they were given discounts to

encourage them to continue with physical activity after the 12-month

project finished.

Borkoles says people of all sizes and shapes can reduce their risk

of poor health by adopting a healthier lifestyle and it is possible

to be fat and fit and restrictive diets do not work.

Next year the researchers will be measuring the progress of the

women four years after the initial intervention.