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August 16, 2009
Thanks for all your emails on my blog post refuting John Cloud’s Time magazine article that exercise is useless for weight loss. Several of you pointed out, however, that I neglected to mention the author’s contention that exercise is supposed to turn fat into muscle. You’re right, I should have. My bad.
In case you missed it, here is the quote from Mr. Cloud:
You might think half a muffin over an entire day wouldn’t matter much, particularly if you exercise regularly. After all, doesn’t exercise turn fat to muscle, and doesn’t muscle process excess calories more efficiently than fat does?
It amazes me that a high-profile journalist would print such an absurd statement and it’s even more amazing that the fact-checkers over at Time wouldn’t have flagged it as an obvious faux pas. Let’s be clear here: muscle and fat are two separate and distinct properties that have completely different molecular structures. Muscle is a protein-based tissue comprised of filaments called actin and myosin. These filaments are derived from various amino acids and carry out a plethora of metabolic functions. Body fat, on the other hand, is a stored triglyceride. Triglycerides are made up of a carbohydrate (glycerol) moiety and three fatty acids. Once formed, triglycerides are packaged into cells called adipocytes (fat cells) and are used primarily as a long-term energy source. In their stored form, fat is biologically inert with little purpose other than to provide fuel and insulation. Hence, the possibility of muscle turning into fat (or vice versa) is akin to an apple becoming an orange: There’s simply no mechanism for it to happen.
On a related note, this shows that you shouldn’t avoid strength training in fear that the muscle you develop will turn to fat if you stop working out. Sadly, I still hear this reasoning, especially amongst women. Reality check: The only thing that happens when you stop training is that your muscles begin to atrophy (i.e. get smaller), eventually returning to pre-exercise levels. Since muscle loss is often associated with a decreased metabolic rate which, in turn, indirectly increases fat deposits, it can appear as if muscle has turned into fat. In reality, though, there is simply more fat and less muscle.
But why would you stop training, anyway? Make exercise a habit. Ingrain it into your everyday lifestyle. You’ll be healthier–and yes, leaner–as a result.
Stay Fit!
Brad
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Hi Brad,
Yes, I caught that “turning fat into muscle” mistake the first time around, and the article lost further credibility. Two totally different types of tissue.
Thanks for the good input.
Liz
Comment by Liz — August 22, 2009 @ 5:13 am
Hi Brad,
I read the Time article a few days ago. What an unprofessional, uneducated, and negative article. Time should be ashamed. Not only is the author incorrect as you have highlighted, but the article insults anyone who exercises regularly. I took from the article, that the message is “those who exercise have no self control and cannot make good choices about eating and snacking. Therefore, don’t bother.” I hope more experts and respected professionals will speak out against this information. I plan to use it as a bulletin board in my gym (I am a Physical Education teacher) and my Athletic Training room (I am an ATC for a public high school). The kids will be able to see the in accurate statements and the truthful statements to set them straight. Keep up the good fight!
Erin
Comment by Erin Shirley MA ATC — August 25, 2009 @ 2:10 am
The bigwig newspaper authors are of the opinion that they can \"create truths\" by writing whatever they want to. As you and many others have clearly illustrated over the years, exercise is one of the best and healthiest ways to lose weight. Along with keeping the body and mind healthy, it teaches us a lot of discipline in life.Times should be ashamed of publishing the half cooked article without verifying the facts. We at musclegainingsecrets.net clearly illustrate the importance of exercise in daily life and we have solid proof from many who people have shed extra fat because of exercise as opposed to that quoted by the author
Comment by Muscle Gaining Secrets — September 24, 2009 @ 7:31 pm
Great post, Brad.
The notion of literally turning fat into muscle is a myth that any decent PhysEd101 teacher should dispel early on- creating the illusion of turning the fat into muscle is one thing, but literally doing so is impossible.
Comment by Turn Fat Into Muscle — July 23, 2010 @ 12:20 am