Exercise for a minute a day won't shift the flab

What I'm actually referring to is the new research which suggest that if you get on your bike or treadmill for a minute a day it can move the flab in no time.

It comes from the University of Utah where researchers have (again) been looking into the vexing matter of being life-threateningly overweight compared with the growing pressures to be thinner than ever.

And so comes the latest, startling claim that even 60 seconds a day of brisk activity can make nearly half a pound difference in weight for the average woman. Over exactly what period of time and just what is deemed to be average in this case, is not at all clear.

Another disjointed bit of research being sold to the worried overweight as a miracle cure.

So let's unravel it a bit.

Sensible exercise is absolutely important to general health whether there are pounds to lose or not. People also need to appreciate that a diet high-cal rubbish will never replace replaces other things in their live and is simply fuel in making them fatter and miserable.

Encouraging proper exercise has a massive part to play, I buy that.

But don't sell the latest bit of research or expensive gizmo as some miracle cure for getting rid of fat.

I saw a classic example recently of a back-to-front approach in healthy lifestyles. Two women arrived at a hotel's gym at the same time, both looking for a parking space and both intent on the one pretty well outside the door, despite acres of parking several rows away.

One got it and the pair ended up glaring at each other. the unlucky gym member then drove round and round waiting for a closer spot to be vacated.

How daft was that? They'd be paying a fortune for the privilege of a hot and sweaty gym, on that day both started the session with simmering tempers and yet a brisk walk across the car park (together?) would have been much more useful.

We do need to get real with weight, fitness and health. And the promise of a minute a day on a static bike isn't the complete answer either.