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Sorry, Exercise Doesn't Boost Metabolism

Research busts myth that workouts keep burning fat hours later

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted May 26, 2009 5:30 PM CDT

(Newser) – You went for a half-hour run this afternoon, so it’s OK to have that extra slice of cake tonight, right? That’s actually wrong, say scientists, and they’re just as surprised about it as you. The now-debunked assumption was that exercise leaves the body with more power to burn fat for up to 24 hours, MSNBC reports.

The research team looked at groups of average people, competitive runners, lean sedentary people and obese sedentary people, and older and younger subjects. All the results agreed: You do still burn fat while exercising, but in the following 24 hours, your metabolism isn’t any faster than it would have been if you’d been slouched on the couch instead of out running.

The common perception that exercise keeps the body burning calories for long after a jog may cause people to eat more (or less healthily).
The common perception that exercise keeps the body burning calories for long after a jog may cause people to eat more (or less healthily).   (Flickr)
A half-hour on the stationary bike is still good for you, but don't think it means you can eat that donut without it going straight to your thighs.
A half-hour on the stationary bike is still good for you, but don't think it means you can eat that donut without it going straight to your thighs.   (Flickr)
Even among triathletes, studies found no difference in the amount of fat burned on days following a strenuous workout, compared to sedentary days.
Even among triathletes, studies found no difference in the amount of fat burned on days following a strenuous workout, compared to sedentary days.   (Flickr)
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People think they have a license to eat whatever they want, and our research shows that is definitely not the case. You can easily undo what you set out to do. - Edward Melanson, an exercise physiologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Colorado

Bottom line is that we once thought that exercise would burn calories, especially fat calories, for a long period after a bout of exercise. This does not seem to be the case. - Exercise physiologist Gerald Endress, fitness director for the Duke University Diet and Fitness Center

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
brawne
May 27, 2009 6:20 AM CDT
The important word here is metabolism, which means your body's chemistry. This study is about the fact that working your ass off doesn't change the fact that your metabolism rules. You are born with it and yes working out is good for you and bone density, etc. Lose your thyroid gland, which controls your metabolism and you can eat 500 calories a day and still gain weight. You control your body by caloric intake and energy output, but the day you lose that ability you will understand that working out has nothing to do with the metabolism you naturally have. You could eat candy all day and as long as you don't intake more than outtake you'll be fine. You're body at the molecular metabolic level can't tell a peach from a snickers bar. Just calories in and energy out. Every pound is 3600 calories and at the cell level, that's al that counts. Do whatever you want and it will work unless you develop a metabolic disorder. Then you learn that you have no control. This study is just saying what anyone without a natural metabolism knows: you don't control your cells. Hey, be happy you don't go to an Endocrinologist who is a lipid expert. Then, you would discover that even oatmeal at every meal doesn't count without your glands.
marca17
May 27, 2009 5:48 AM CDT
Apology accepted.
laslow
May 27, 2009 5:08 AM CDT
This is not true. Yes, you only burn calories as long as you're doing the cardiovascular workout, it's not rocket science. However, if you lift weights and do exercises that work large muscles groups (exercises that aren't of the "isolation" type) then you will burn calories long after your workout. Exercises like lunges, weighted squats, bench press, etc. are ones that will work those large muscle groups. It may not speed up your metabolism, per se, but you will certainly burn more fat after the work out. Doesn't mean you should go and eat an entire pound cake afterwards. Not sure where people get the idea that if you've had a half-hour bike ride, it's okay to eat a bucket of chicken... Consume less calories than your daily allotment and burn some in addition to that, you will lose weight.

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