Physical effort affects different people in different ways. Some might be able to increase muscle size and strength faster and more easily than others, just as it’s easier for certain people to lose weight through exercise. That’s just part of your genetic makeup. A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine looks at individual variability in the response to exercise as a potential roadblock to weight loss.

Because of the psychological and behavioral factors associated with exercise, some people respond to an increase in energy expenditure (burning calories) with an increase in hunger followed by the consumption of more food. As a result, they lose little to no weight. On the other hand, the authors of the study point out that even a little exercise-induced weight loss can bring significant improvements in aerobic capacity, blood pressure, waist circumference and overall mood.

True Strength Moment: If you aren’t losing a lot of weight with regular exercise, don’t get discouraged. Muscle weighs more than body fat, so a decrease in body fat might be offset with an increase in muscle mass. Although the majority of dieters would count the improvement in body composition as an accomplishment, focusing too much on what the scale is telling you can throw some cold water on your enthusiasm. For more on this topic, read Sunday’s Performance News at ABBperformance.com