A moment comes for most of us when we realize it's time to drop some pounds. If you've let your weight creep upward over the years, the prospect can be daunting. All those low-cal weeks and months, those miles and miles on the treadmill.
But new research says you don't have to get thing to benefit, just thinner. Losing as little as a pound a year, and keeping it off, can lift you to the next level of good health.
A study prsented by the American Heart Association shows that small weight losses can lead to big blood pressure improvements. And that results in a lower risk of heart disease and stroke.
If you're between 50 and 65 years old, thsoe tiny weight adjustments are especially significant. Losing a pound a year for four years, and keeping them off for four or more years, will cut your risk of high blood pressure by 30 percent.
This modest level of weight loss is possible for almost anyone. So forget the crash diets and the intense gym workouts. Just stick to a reasonable diet and stay active, and you'll be significantly healthier, the study says.
"It's amazing, isn't it," said researcher Lynn L. Moore. "Even that modest amount of weight loss makes a big difference."
from Intergroup's Magazine of Healthy Living BeingWell Winter 2000
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