Time Magazine's ABSURD article

I'm still reeling from this weeks Time magazine article by John Cloud from August 9, 2009. "Why exercise won't make you thin". You can read it here.

I am so glad that there are so many other fitness professionals that have written and reviewed how WRONG, inaccurate and misrepresentative Mr. Cloud's article is.

I am still in shock. When I read the article, I was speechless and I couldn't do anything but laugh. I honestly thought it had to be a joke. You might eat more after being active or exercising, so if you want to lose weight, that isn't the way to do it? Seriously?

There appear to be a couple of reputable professionals quoted in it, and I would not be surprised to see interviews and/or information from them, their representatives or professional organizations in the near future "clarifying" what they meant and possibly explaining how the information they provided was somehow misinterpreted.

I am also questioning someone's judgement (and just plain common sense) for allowing an article like this to be published. Sure, there are a couple of scientific research articles referenced to support Mr Cloud's claim. Unfortunately there is also considerably more evidence to the contrary: Why exercise WILL make you thin. Not to mention the health benefits that come from regular activity/exercise that are far too numerous to mention (and honestly warrant considerable more emphasis than given in Mr Cloud's article).

The real harm in Mr Cloud's story does not come from those that are already active. Most of those people know and feel the benefits of their fitness daily. The real harm comes to those that have been told that they need to be thinking about making a change, losing some weight and becoming more fit, often times they have one or more of the following issues:

• borderline for high blood pressure or just simply slightly elevated blood pressure
• doctor has suggested getting more active to lose a little bit of weight to prevent some hereditary or weight related condition they are at risk for
• slightly elevated cholesterol
• higher than normal stress or tension headaches
• problems sleeping

I see that Mr Cloud recognizes the health benefits and specifically refers to them in a couple of paragraphs, but someone that has just been told they need to be more active to lose a little weight, just read that article and thought "hey, new research, woohoo, exercise isn't going to help me lose weight at all (whew)!". I know I have heard it from at least one person this week.

Mr Cloud: People do not need helping finding excuses NOT to exercise or to be INACTIVE. There are many, many, many legitimate excuses not to exercise, to avoid activity, to sit in front of the tv or whatever it is that you would rather be doing, but the fact that you MIGHT eat more and not get thin, is DEFINITELY not one of them. Suggesting to anyone that exercise or increased activity levels won't help you lose weight is simply inaccurate, irresponsible and ignorant.

Here are just a few of the articles written that are considerably more accurate and representative of most scientific research and common sense.

Tom Venuto's review

Runner's World review
Runner's World also has a great link to the ACSM's (American College of Sports Medicine) updated position paper from 2009 titled "Appropriate Physical Activity Intervention Strategies for Weight Loss and Prevention of Weight Regain for Adults here.

As expected, Runner's World (and ACSM) are both pro-cardio, so you can read more of the support for weight training and weight loss/health benefits here in another SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH based rebuttal, by Brad.

The LA Times recognized the absurdity of it here.

August 26, 2009
another blog brought to my attention by IDEA:
http://www.nickianderson.com/2009/08/09/time-article-missing-a-few-points/

IDEA's stance: http://www.ideafit.com/blog/idea-fitness-fusion-2008/a-time-out-for-time-magazine