Fit Fact: Obese people may have a harder time losing weight

If you're obese and thinking your weight loss seems slower than a dead snail, it may not be your imagination. In a study published in Cell Metabolism (a little light bedtime reading for you), researchers found that the skeletal muscle of obese people may actually be "programmed" to store fat.

The good news is, the researchers also found that exercise can be a huge help in overcoming this problem because exercise does promote changes in muscle metabolism. That means that combining exercise with dietary changes may be your best bet for losing weight, even if the weight loss is slower than you'd like to to be.

It can be frustrating, trying to start an exercise program when you're overweight or obese, but it's essential for your health, whether you lose weight or not. These resources can give you some ideas for how to start:

• Exercise for Obese People
• Strength Training for Obese People
• Obesity FAQs
• Small Steps to a Healthy Family Lifestyle

Muoio, Deborah M., et al. Elevated stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 expression in skeletal muscle contributes to abnormal fatty acid partitioning in obese humans. Cell Metabolism, Vol 2, 251-261, October 2005.