60+ minutes of exercise per day to maintain weight after age 50

[emily_in_nc]

This just in:

http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...intain-weight/.

It makes sense and I believe it. I'm going to have to pick up the activity level as I've already gained a little weight since moving to Belize, where I haven't been as active as I was in the US for a variety of reasons (heat, humidity, boredom with the limited options available, no road cycling, no gym access, etc.) When I move back to the US next year I plan to rectify the situation.

It would be hard to get the hour daily for those working full-time or more than full-time, at least every single day.

Comments/discussion?

[OakLeaf]

Without reading the article , most of these studies consider any activity to be "exercise." So medium to heavy housework, gardening, walking one's commute, etc., would all count toward the hour.

[SadieKate]

"The most active group of women spent the equivalent of 420 minutes a week (60 minutes a day) or more engaged in moderate-intensity physical activity."

I did read the article and the primary reported measurement was a total duration over a week which coincidentally could be achieved at 60 mins/day. Frankly, a blanket 60 mins a day seems weird since you need to vary your workout activities. 60 mins a day for me would be complete burnout but I easily out do 420 mins/week.

[Irulan]

No comment on what kind of diet these people eat? I"m fifty two and am maintaining weight just fine but then again I'm super mindful about not eating too much and not eating crap.( without 420/wk or 60/day)

[PamNY]

No comment on what kind of diet these people eat? I"m fifty two and am maintaining weight just fine but then again I'm super mindful about not eating too much and not eating crap.( without 420/wk or 60/day)

Agreed -- and I am 62.

[emily_in_nc]

They do say it needs to be moderate-level activity (brisk walking or more). My impression was housework would NOT be considered to be enough. Basically, this study debunks the earlier recommendations of 30 minutes 5x a week was enough to maintain weight without cutting calories. This study says, nope, that's not enough, at least for women 50+. They found that for people who got less than the equivalent of an hour a day of moderate exercise, calorie cutting was required to maintain BMI.

I do agree that the 60 minutes doesn't necessarily have to be *every* day, but I'd think that being a slug 6x a week and then blowing it out on one huge weekend event might not do it either.

When I was living in the US, I maintained my weight within a 2 lb. range for 10 years while working full-time, but I did get moderate to high physical activity for 60 minutes most days (gym + walks + running), plus 2-3 hours usually once a week (long bike ride with hills or long hilly hike). Now I'm getting a little less than that except when we travel and do a lot of hiking, and I've gained about 4 lbs. We live on a flat beach, and it's hard to get the intensity needed to burn the calories. Running does it, but between the heat and humidity, I've found it hard to keep up with that. I do yoga 2x a week for 90 minutes each time, but it's fairly low intensity overall.

I'm sure it's not true for every woman -- some are natural ectomorphs and can maintain on less activity; some may need more. This is also not talking about people who are trying to lose weight, just women of normal weight who are attempting to maintain at age 50+. For me it seems to be pretty accurate.