Losing Weight by Trying Not To

Losing weight – by trying not to. This is Dr. Steven Andrew Davis, Speaking of Health.

For many overweight people, the preoccupation is split between food and the bathroom scale. Emphasis goes into how, what, when you eat, and what the net effect is, in pounds, weeks later.

But you could look at losing weight like some people approach making money. Rather than having pursuit of profit the primary goal, do something you really enjoy, become good at it, and the money will take care of itself. Whether you believe that or not, a similar end run can work for losing weight. In this case, the magic button is not food, but rather exercise. The problem, of course, is that many overweight people eschew exercise. They’re too tired for it, afraid of it, or look bad doing it. Or they think it’s dangerous. But increasingly physiologists document a variety of health benefits from exercise like stress reduction, better sleeping and greater strength; and in the course of exercise a person does lose some weight. And even a modest reduction in weight can help bring down blood pressure and reduce the need for certain medications.

So we’ve come full circle. Instead of crash diets to lose weight, consider low-intensity, occasional exercise. Don’t worry about huffing and puffing; do something you enjoy. Once the barriers to the exercise concept are broken down, vigorous, enjoyable exercise may be on the way and chances for keeping off the weight – go up. For a copy of this script, visit our web site, speakingofhealth.com. Speaking of Health, I'm Dr. Steven Andrew Davis for CBS News.