New findings from a study led by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine suggest focusing less on structured exercise and more on building frequent periods of enjoyable movement into the day will more likely contribute to health benefits that can be sustained.
The study is the first to demonstrate that a behavioral intervention focused on moving often throughout the day produces similar short-term weight loss and better long-term weight maintenance relative to a high volume of aerobic treadmill walking. Findings were published online in Obesity: The Journal of The Obesity Society.
“This study adds to the growing body of evidence that interrupting sitting with light movement throughout the day has important health benefits and may be better than doing a once-a-day bout of moderate-intensity exercise for helping to maintain weight loss in older people,” said Barb Nicklas, PhD, co-principal investigator of the study and professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine at the School of Medicine.