They Wanted to ‘Get Moving’--and Left

The closest thing modern medicine has to a magic health therapy is something most of us can’t be bothered to try for long--regular, vigorous exercise.

The scale of this resistance is demonstrated in the results of a new exercise study. Researchers recruited more than 23,000 women from across the country to participate in Choose to Move, a weekly curriculum on reducing heart disease risk that includes nutrition tips and advice on how to incorporate half an hour of exercise into each day. Sponsored by the American Heart Assn., the program promises to “change your life in 12 weeks” by offering the opportunity to “get up, get out and get moving.” And so it did--for 3,775 participants, who reported eating better and exercising significantly more.

The other 20,000 or so? Researchers never heard back from them. Some may have benefited and not reported it; others perhaps were busy training for triathlons. But most doctors doubt it. As the study authors write, “The limited completion rate underscores the need to continue to develop long-term health behavior maintenance programs for diverse populations.”