While regular vigorous exercise correlated most strongly with healthy body weight in our recent study, our findings suggest that any physical activity is helpful, including activities you might not even consider exercise. Everyday activities such as housework, yard work, and playing with kids were modestly tied to lower weight. By contrast, hours spent sitting each day, whether at an office desk or at home watching television, correlated with higher weight.

Read more on winter workouts, and see more tips for maintaining a healthy weight. And if you're looking to get moving at home, see our new Ratings (subscribers only) on home exercise equipment and find out how to have your own home gym for under $100.