While current U.S. guidelines recommend getting at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week to sustain weight, new research suggests almost three times that amount is really needed by women to prevent weight gain.

Researchers from Harvard Medical School and their colleagues examined the association of different amounts of physical activity with long-term weight changes among women with an average age of 54.2 years who ate a normal diet The study involved over 34,000 women who reported their exercise and body weight at three-year intervals from 1992 to 2007. Overall, the women in the study gained an average of 2.6 kg (5.7 pounds) throughout the study. Women who were a normal weight, defined as a body mass index less than 25, were able to maintain their weight if they did either 30 minutes of intense physical activity or 60 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a day. However, for overweight or obese women, 60 minutes of moderate-intensity activity was not enough to maintain weight.

Source: HealthandAge.com

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