Overweight and obesity involve accumulation of excess fat in the body and both are considered as health threats. People exercise to solve the concern of being obese or overweight; however, a study reveals that it is not outpace obesity.
Regular exercise as the answer to obesity is a myth that should be smashed, according to a group of cardiologists in London, as per Mashable.
People cannot beat a bad diet and regular exercise does not facilitate weight reduction, though it decreases that chance of having health problems like heart ailments, diabetes, cancer, and dementia, according to an editorial in the May edition of British Journal of Sports Medicine.
As per the investigators, the food industry gives people the idea that lack of exercise leads to obesity. This idea was linked by the investigators to the strategy of large tobacco companies involving smoking and lung cancer.
Tobacco companies pursued marketing of their products, which has led to the confusion of the people, according to the researchers. Some companies got the loyalty of other scientists, affecting millions of lives. Their strategy effectively slowed down the government intervention.
The journal also revealed the argument on calorie counting and calorie sources. It contends that calories from sugar stimulate fat storage and hunger, while calories from fat give a person a feeling of being full.
According to a study in the academic journal Nutrition, limiting carbohydrate intake is the most effective way to fight obesity. One editorial criticized sugary drinks, suggesting the British government to add tax on those kinds of drinks and to ban the promotion of junk foods.
Meanwhile, Britain's Food and Drink Federation discarded the links made with the tobacco industry, saying that such comparisons are "absurd and offensive." It disputes that the benefits of exercise are not "industry hype" or conspiracy.
According to the NHS, one out of four adults and one out of five children in the United Kingdom suffer from obesity.
The NHS gives pieces of advice to people trying to reduce their weight. These include eating a balanced and calorie-controlled diet and doing physical activities like fast walking, jogging, swimming, or tennis for up to 300 minutes per week.