Gym Subsidies?

According to Reuters, South Korea plans to help obese children pay for health club membership and other activities that can help them lose weight, an official said on Wednesday. 

Obese elementary school kids will receive 40,000 won a month.   These electronic vouchers can be used at designated gyms and health clubs.  

Gym and health club owners throughout Korea must be very happy.  =)   I'm not sure if this program will work.  Exercise is only one variable to weight loss   Losing weight requires a change in lifestyle and psychology.  For those that watched the "Science of Sleep" video, maybe these kids just need to sleep more.   

Also, will this program continue indefinitely?   95% of people who lose weight regain it.  This is based on a study from 1959, which really needs to be updated.  However, there are some facts that back this up.  

Here's the bad news: Fat cells do not disappear.  When you lose weight, they shrink.  When you become obese your body creates more of these permanent fat cells.  So, a kid who used to be fat can have double the amount of fat cells as someone who has always been normal.  Many scientists theorize this is the reason it's easy to regain weight.  

What happens once you stop exercising?  People usually regain the weight.  

Why do diets usually fail?  Because you regain the weight once you stop the diet.  

How do you lose weight and maintain it?  Diet and exercise have to become part of your lifestyle.  My gym is always busy before summer.  Most people say: "I want to lose 10 kilos, so I can wear a swimsuit at the beach."   Usually, after they lose the 10 kilos, they stop exercising.  What do you think will happen?  

Unfortunately, the majority of people think exercising is temporary.  We just try to get in shape for upcoming events.