Think exercise is pointless if you’re overweight? Exercise helps the heart, regardless of your weight. Forget the scale and get moving.

Get off the scale and get moving. New research provides a silver lining for people who work out but never see the numbers on the scale budge. Even if you’re overweight, exercise is still good for the heart. According to the study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, being fit helps defend against heart disease risks, even if you’re overweight. People who gained weight and became less fit as they got older increased their risk of suffering from metabolic syndrome (a cluster of health issues that increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease) by 71 percent. People who maintained their fitness level but gained weight decreased that risk by 22 percent. Don’t fret so much about the numbers on your scale and exercise instead for the health benefits.

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