Running May Reduce Harm of Overeating

Vigorous exercise can help keep those holiday cookies from harming your health, a new study shows. The study included 26 healthy young men. They were asked to limit their normal physical activity for a week. But half of the men were randomly assigned to run on a treadmill for 45 minutes a day. All of the men were asked to follow their normal diet but eat more for of it. Daily calories increased by 50% in the inactive group and 75% in the exercise group. This ensured that both groups had the same excess calorie intake, even though one group was exercising. After just a week of overeating, everyone had an increase in blood sugar. Tests showed that the men also had unhealthy changes to metabolism. But all of these effects were much reduced in the men who were exercising. The Journal of Physiology published the study December 15. HealthDay News wrote about it.