BBC NEWS | Health | Hour's exercise 'to lose weight'

BBC NEWS | Health | Hour's exercise 'to lose weight': "Research points to a combination of exercise and calorie control as having the best chance of success in weight loss - although the majority of people who attempt these diets fail to keep the weight off.

The latest research, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine journal, confirms that plenty of exercise is a key ingredient of success.

The Pittsburgh researchers looked at a group of overweight and obese women over a four year period.

They were all told to eat between 1,200 and 1,500 calories a day, and split into four different exercise programmes, varying the intensity and amount of exercise carried out.

After six months, women in all four groups had lost up to 10% of their body weight - but most could not keep this going.

The women who did maintain the 10% loss were those who reported doing more exercise, on average 275 minutes per week."