Elizabeth Lohmann goes to the gym three or four times a week to exercise. She typically runs or walks, depending on her mood.The kinesiology freshman has aspirations to run a marathon one day and said she works out to stay in shape and keep her body healthy and active.  “It’s not about losing weight,” she said. A recent study supports Lohmann’s mentality toward exercise. Exercise alone does not directly lead to weight loss and can actually lead to weight gain, according to research published Feb. 18 by the Public Library of Science. Although exercise does improve health and prevent certain diseases, the study showed people have a tendency to compensate for what they have burned by overeating afterward. The study split 464 overweight women who didn’t regularly exercise into three groups which underwent various degrees of exercise with a trainer, while a control group continued their normal routine. Eating habits remained the same. The variable groups did not lose substantially more weight than the control group in the end. Some even gained weight. Researchers concluded increased exercise leads to increased compensation afterward. THE ENERGY EQUATIONRichard Tulley, professor of nutrition and food at the Agricultural Center, said it’s important to monitor portion sizes to ensure more calories are burned off than ingested. “Pay attention to how you feel while you’re eating,” Tulley said. Healthy nutrition is vital for preventing health complications like Type II diabetes, said Mike Keenan, associate professor of human nutrition and food.”If you don’t eat right, you may develop some nutritional deficiencies,” he said. Keenan recommended students use the 459 Commons dining hall because it has a range of healthy selections like a salad bar, vegetables and fruit. However, he warned it is easy to overeat because it is a buffet and students like to go for the pizza and chicken nuggets, which are loaded with energy. Keenan said foods high in volume and low in energy density, like fruits and vegetables, are better for students and will keep them feeling satisfied longer. “People love being full”, Keenan said. “We don’t eat until we’re satisfied — we eat until we’re full.”  One way to solve overeating would be to eat small, frequent meals throughout the day, Keenan said. HEALTHY CHOICESIn previous semesters, students received free nutrition assessments in which the University Student Recreational Complex teamed up with the Student Health Center to have a dietician meet with students for 30 minutes. The dietician is currently on maternity leave, but the UREC is looking to bring the service back next semester, according to Amy Kokemor, interim director of UREC’s Healthy Lifestyles. Keenan said exercise is also important. “Don’t give up on exercise,” he said. “The two go hand-in-hand.” The American College of Sports Medicine promotes physical activity combined with a heathy diet to achieve significant weight loss. Additionally, energy restrictions, like changes in diet, will increase results. “There is evidence that diet combined with [physical activity] is associated with significantly greater weight loss compared to diet alone,” according to a February 2009 study published by ACSM. AT THE URECThe UREC promotes the national standards formed by ACSM, which recommend moderate cardiovascular exercise three to five days a week for 20-60 minutes, according to Kokemor. The UREC offers different classes for different goals. Kokemor said many of their classes promote weight loss, and there are fitness assessments to track progress. Also available are specialty courses that progress in nature, Kokemor said. These provide more individualized attention with an instructor. They also offer personalized trainers and online courses for those who prefer to exercise alone. “We hope to target all populations with our programs,” Kokemor said. Now that GroupX classes are included in student fees, Kokemor said the classes are very popular. The UREC installed a new system which divides the classes by intensity and degree of choreography. Chloe Hill, history sophomore, said she takes the GroupX yoga class, and the group setting is a “great motivator.” Kokemor said it helps when people work out in a group setting. “Motivation is one of the biggest issues that allows you to either keep a routine or break a routine,” Kokemor said. Kokemor said students should take particular care of their health. “This is the age when it really matters,” she said. “What you do now will affect you later on.”     ————Contact Sarah Eddington at [email protected]