The study followed 3551 (US) men and women, aged 18-30 for 20 years. They found that men who maintained a high level of activity (150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a week) gained an average of 5.7 fewer pounds and women gained 13.4 fewer pounds, when compared to counterparts who exercised less consistently. The high-activity man also gained 3.1cm less around the waist each year, while women showed 3.8cm less each year. Over the 20 years, all participants gained weight as they transitioned from young adulthood through middle age, but the high-activity group showed greater control over weight gain. The researchers also mentioned that physical activity alone may not be enough to keep weight off, and that a combination of diet, psychological issues, and overall health also play a large role in weight gain with age. Also having children and menopause, contribute to the weight gain seen in women over the years. The researchers suggest to "train for middle age" as if you were training for a marathon, in order to give yourself the best opportunity for a healthy weight later in life. Also, for those who have passed the age of young adulthood, it's never to late to start taking on healthy behaviors, as daily exercise and a healthy diet can decrease the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, stroke, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and possibly certain cancers.
Information Source:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_106642.html
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