Physical Activity and Weight Control

Regular physical activity is an important part of effective weight loss and weight maintenance. It also


can help prevent several diseases and improve your overall health. It does not matter what type of


physical activity you perform--sports, planned exercise, household chores, yard work, or work-related


tasks--all are beneficial. Studies show that even the most inactive people can gain significant health


benefits if they accumulate 30 minutes or more of physical activity per day. Based on these findings,


the U.S. Public Health Service has identified increased physical activity as a priority in Healthy People


2000, our national objectives to improve the health of Americans by the year 2000.




Research consistently shows that regular physical activity, combined with healthy eating habits, is the


most efficient and healthful way to control your weight. Whether you are trying to lose weight or


maintain it, you should understand the important role of physical activity and include it in your


lifestyle.




How Can Physical Activity Help Control My Weight?




Physical activity helps to control your weight by using excess calories that otherwise would be stored


as fat. Your body weight is regulated by the number of calories you eat and use each day. Everything


you eat contains calories, and everything you do uses calories, including sleeping, breathing, and


digesting food. Any physical activity in addition to what you normally do will use extra calories.




Balancing the calories you use through physical activity with the calories you eat will help you achieve


your desired weight. When you eat more calories than you need to perform your day's activities, your


body stores the extra calories and you gain weight (a). When you eat fewer calories than you use, your


body uses the stored calories and you lose weight (b). When you...