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From VOA Learning English, this is the Health and Lifestyle report.

We begin with bad news for people who bought a wearable fitness tracker in hopes of losing weight.A new study finds the electronic device probably does not help with weight loss.

The study was a project of researchers from the University of Pittsburgh in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.Fitness trackers are designed to record your physical activity. They are usually worn around the wrist, where they measure a person's heart rate.

The University of Pittsburgh research team looked at two groups of individuals. The first wore a fitness tracker and took part in health counseling. In other words, they spoke with nutrition and physical fitness experts to consider the best weight loss plan.

The researchers compared this group with people who only took part in health counseling.

The study found that those who simply had health counseling lost more weight than those who had counseling and wore a fitness tracker. In fact, those who only spoke with the health experts lost nearly six kilograms. Those who used a fitness tracker lost only 3.5 kilograms.

John Jakicic is the lead researcher. He is also chairman of the university's Department of Health and Physical Activity. He questioned the use of electronic devices as tools for weight control in place of "effective behavioral counseling for physical activity and diet."

The study involved 470 subjects between the ages of 18 and 35. Some of them were overweight, while others were heavier and considered obese. Over three fourths of the subjects were women, and 29 percent were minorities.The researchers told all the subjects to increase their physical activity. The men and women also were told to start on a low calorie diet.

The subjects were told to have their weight measured once every six months over the two-year study.After six months, researchers divided the group into two parts: one continued with monthly counseling, while members of the other group were given a wearable fitness tracker.

Eighteen months later, both groups "showed significant improvements in body composition, fitness, physical activity, and diet," with no major difference between groups.

However, when it came to losing weight, the people who spoke with experts lost nearly twice as much weight.Jakicic said the study's findings "are important because effective long-term treatments are needed to address America's obesity epidemic." He warned that "questions remain regarding the effectiveness of wearable devices."More information is needed, he adds, to learn how to best use these devices to change "physical activity and diet behaviors" in adults who want to lose weight.

The researchers published their findings in The Journal of the American Medical Association.

I'm Anna Matteo.

这里是VOA慢速英语健康生活报道。

对那些想通过穿戴健身追踪器减肥的人来说，这是一个坏消息。

最新研究表明，这种电子设备对减肥没有任何帮助。该研究由美国宾西法尼亚州匹兹堡大学的研究人员进行。

健身追踪器的作用是记录身体活动。一般人们会将其穿戴在手腕上测试心率。

匹兹堡大学的研究团队调查了两组人。其中一组穿戴健身追踪器并接受了健康咨询。就是说，与营养专家和运动专家交流后，采用最佳减肥方案。

研究人员将这一组人的体重与只接受健康咨询的人进行对比。

研究表明，只接受健康咨询的人比既接受健康咨询又穿戴健身追踪器的人体重下降得多。事实上，只接受健康咨询的人平均体重减轻约6公斤。而穿戴健身追踪器的人平均体重只减轻了3.5公斤。

约翰•亚基契克（John Jakicic）是首席研究员。他还是匹兹堡大学健康和体育活动系主任。对于用电子设备取代“进行运动和饮食方面的有效咨询”以控制体重的观点，他深表质疑。

参加研究的为470名年龄在18岁到35岁的成年人。其中一些人超重，另一些人“过度肥胖”。其中约75%的人为女性，29%的人是少数族裔。

研究人员要求受试者们增强体育锻炼。另外还要求其开始食用低卡路里食物。

在为期两年的时间里，研究对象被要求每六个月测量一次体重。

六个月后，研究人员将其分为两组。其中一组继续每月的健康咨询，另一组每人发了一个可穿戴的健身追踪器。

十八个月后，两组人在“身体结构、形体、体育运动和饮食上都有明显进步”，但是没有太大差别。

然而，在体重对比上，接受专家咨询的一组体重减轻几乎是另一组的两倍。

亚基契克称，这项研究成果“很重要，因为长久有效的治疗于美国肥胖疾病而言非常必要。”他还表示：“穿戴设备是否有效仍需要进一步研究。”

他还补充说，对于那些想要减肥的成年人来说，要想充分利用这些电子装置改变“体育锻炼和饮食”，还需要更多参考信息。

研究人员将研究成果刊登在《美国医学协会》期刊上。

安娜•马特奥为您播报。



1词汇学习：

1.fitness trackers 健身追踪器 Many of the fitness trackers in their current form are large, unattractive, uncomfortable bracelets.现在很多健康追踪器都是又大又难看、戴起来也不舒服的腕带。 2.electronic device 电子装置 We see many electronic device, most of which is make in shanghai.我们看见了许多电子仪器，其中大多数是上海制造的。 3.weight loss 体重减轻 Symptoms of the disease include fever and weight loss.这种疾病的症状包括发烧和体重减轻。 4.physical activity 体育活动 I have been teaching physical education or physical activity class in college for a few years.我在大学已经教了几年体育课和体育活动班。



2内容解析：

1.We begin with bad news for people who bought a wearable fitness tracker in hopes of losing weight. in hopes of 希望；为了 Moderates are plagiarizing his ideas in hopes of wooing voters温和派为讨好选民在盗用他的观点。

In hopes of attracting more tourists, the city of Manning built the worlds biggest mysterious maze.为了吸引更多游客前来，曼宁城兴建了世界最大的神秘迷宫。2.However, when it came to losing weight, the people who spoke with experts lost nearly twice as much weight. When it came to 说道；提及 When it came to the point, he refused to help.到了紧要关头时他却拒绝援助。

When it came to the push, I found, I had forgot all intended to say.我发现到了关键时刻，我已经把想说的忘得一干二净。