A study that was done at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that it all about calories.

This was a very small study, only 24 people. 12 ate 25% fewer calories and the other 12 ate 12.5% fewer calories and increased physical activity to burn another 12.5% calories. Despite the small size of the study, conditions were controlled very closely with standardized meals provided by the Center and closely monitored exercise.

The volunteers in both groups lost about 10 percent of their body weight, 24 percent of their fat mass, and 27 percent of their abdominal visceral fat. The study further revealed that weight reduction could not be targeted, that there is no such thing as "spot" reduction. It was also clear that the diet only group did not lose more muscle mass than those who exercised more – another popular myth.

The last result of interest was that 2 markers for aging were reduced in both groups of volunteers, lending credibility to the theory that lower calorie consumption slows the aging process – at least slightly. Nutrition (diet) and exercise are 2 of the 6 strategies of good health outlined at Best Health Secrets .