Exercising but Not Losing Weight -- What Gives?

QUESTION: An acquaintance was describing her efforts to lose weight: She goes to a local park after work most days and runs/walks up to 8 miles. Still, she hasn't lost any weight and pointed to her flabby midsection as evidence. She may be a few pounds overweight but is not obese. Someone joked that she hasn't changed her eating habits. What might she be doing wrong?

ANSWER: It's good your friend is attuned to the dangers of abdominal obesity. Experts say extra weight carried around the waist (as opposed to the hips) raises the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Generally, for nonpregnant women, if your waist measures more than 35 inches, and for men if more than 40 inches, you may be at greater risk for these chronic conditions. But experts say you can't spot-reduce specific areas of fat.

Dr. Katherine Dec, medical director of CJW Medical Center Women's Sports Medicine, offered some advice.

Physiological age, factors related to metabolism and any potential medical issues may affect how successful one is at weight loss, Dec said.

"Her friend is correct. A combination of 'correct' eating habits and exercise has the highest rate of success in losing those few pounds," Dec said. "Another factor could also be in what type of exercise and if she is continuing to challenge herself with the exercise she selects. For example, walking or running at the same pace, same terrain, may not challenge her system enough to utilize the different nutritional sources she is using for fuel.