from Harvard University
Many of us may have resolved to lose weight in the New Year. It is generally agreed that both diet and exercise are important in weight loss, but would it be better to start on a diet, then exercise or the other way around? Harvard researcher Miguel Alonzo, who compiled data on the subject, says it might be better to start with exercise. He says studies suggest exercise helps control appetite through a process called inhibitory control. This is the brain’s ability to control impulsiveness and makes self-regulation possible. Alonzo says inhibitory control can help us resist many of the temptations we face daily in a society where high calorie foods are omnipresent. He also says when exercise is added to a weight-loss diet, the diet is adhered to for a longer time.