Can wearing a pedometer really help you lose weight without dieting? A review of previous pedometer research studies in the January/February 2008 issue of Annals of Family Medicine says yes. People who used a pedometer logged between one to two miles of extra steps per day and lost weight, even without dieting.
Pedometers Lead to Slow But Consistent Weight Loss
The weight loss seen in the nine studies was small but consistent. At only a tenth of a pound a week, on average, it may seem insignificant. But over a year, it can add up to five pounds lost without dieting. The longer the study, the more weight the participants lost.
While this study compiled several very small studies, this is not the first study to show this effect. It builds the body of evidence that pedometers are an excellent tool to increase activity and lose weight, even without dieting.
Pedometers Work to Improve Health
Researcher Dr. Caroline R. Richardson of the University of Michigan Health System said in a press release, "The increase in physical activity can be expected to result in health benefits that are independent of weight loss. Increasing physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular problems, lowers blood pressure and helps dieters maintain lean muscle tissue when they are dieting."
Get Started Pedometer Walking
Source:
Caroline R. Richardson, Tiffany L. Newton, Jobby J. Abraham, Ananda Sen, Masahito Jimbo, and Ann M. Swartz. "A Meta-Analysis of Pedometer-Based Walking Interventions and Weight Loss."
Annals of Family Medicine. January/February 2008 6: 69-77.
