According to the 2004 IHRSA/ASD Obesity-Weight Control Report, 65{7b225fbeff640dd30b4b8b66650188099c7e8b184e2fb5b5b9f806a74d59162d} of Americans were concerned enough about their weight in 2003 to take action to lower or maintain it. Nearly half the U.S. population (49{7b225fbeff640dd30b4b8b66650188099c7e8b184e2fb5b5b9f806a74d59162d}) said they attempted to shed pounds at some point during 2003, while an additional 16{7b225fbeff640dd30b4b8b66650188099c7e8b184e2fb5b5b9f806a74d59162d} indicated that they had made a conscious effort to maintain their weight. Unfortunately, only 20{7b225fbeff640dd30b4b8b66650188099c7e8b184e2fb5b5b9f806a74d59162d} of those who tried to control their weight considered their efforts “very or “extremely” successful- even in the short term.
The study respondents used a variety of methods to drop pounds including formal diets, exercising: at home, outdoors or at a health club, and both over-the-counter and prescription diet pills and aids. Overall, 25{7b225fbeff640dd30b4b8b66650188099c7e8b184e2fb5b5b9f806a74d59162d} of fitness center members who tried to lose weight described their attempts as “very” or “extremely” successful, compared to only 19{7b225fbeff640dd30b4b8b66650188099c7e8b184e2fb5b5b9f806a74d59162d} of non-gym members. The success rate for health club members who exercised at least 100 times throughout the year jumped to 30{7b225fbeff640dd30b4b8b66650188099c7e8b184e2fb5b5b9f806a74d59162d}.
Broken down, the specific success rates for the other methods are as follows:
· 12{7b225fbeff640dd30b4b8b66650188099c7e8b184e2fb5b5b9f806a74d59162d} of those who used over-the-counter diet aids, prescription diet pills and laxatives
· 19{7b225fbeff640dd30b4b8b66650188099c7e8b184e2fb5b5b9f806a74d59162d} of home exercisers
· 21{7b225fbeff640dd30b4b8b66650188099c7e8b184e2fb5b5b9f806a74d59162d} of outdoor exercisers
· 26{7b225fbeff640dd30b4b8b66650188099c7e8b184e2fb5b5b9f806a74d59162d} of those who followed a formal diet
Learning good form and receiving a balanced workout routine that includes the most effective exercises will speed your weight loss. A good fitness center will do that for you. Besides being a valuable asset during the process of losing weight, studies have consistently shown that the vast majority of people who successfully maintain their weight loss are those who have made regular physical activity a habit. Health clubs can also provide social support, which is key in weight management.
More importantly, engaging in regular exercise confers an abundance of physical and mental health advantages that cannot be attained through dieting alone. Just some of these benefits would include: increased muscle strength and bone density, stress reduction, improved sleep quality, reduced risk for a variety of diseases, increased metabolism and energy level, improved flexibility, stamina, mood and immune function.
