Exercise, Combined with Healthy Eating, Helps Keep Pounds off

"Twas the season for friends, family and too much food. Now, it's time to face those extra pounds.

According to the February issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter, exercise is a key component to long-term weight loss.

Cutting down on the calories you consume allows you to lose more weight than does exercising. However, research shows that for people who don't exercise, the pounds they lose often come back within three to five years. By contrast, people who begin with a program of physical exercise and activity may not experience immediate weight loss, but over the long term, research shows that regular exercise is a more effective way to keep the weight off over a number of years.

Whether through diet, exercise or a combination, to lose a pound a week, you need to eliminate 500 calories a day (or 3,500 calories a week).

Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today's health and medical news. To subscribe, please call toll-free 800-333-9037, extension 9PR1.