Saturday, November 15, 2008

A Cold and Being Overweight Connected?

Is it true that being overweight can raise my rick of catching a cold?

Possibly. Extra pounds can weaken the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight off illness. And if you do get sick, you're more likely than someone at a healthy weight to develop complications, such as bronchitis or pneumonia. The good news? You can boost your immune system with exercise. One study found that womn who take a 45-minute walk 5 days a week are 3 times less likely to geet a cold than women who don't work out. But should you exercise when you're sick? It's safe to work out when you have a cold, but not when you have flu symptoms, such as body aches and chills.

Taken from Weight Watcher's Magazine November/December 2008 Issue

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