A study that was released Tuesday outlines the best approach to regain heart health for those who have let themselves go.

HEART DISEASE Section: Heart Health Interactive: Virtual Heart Calculator: Heart Risk Test Learn: Symptoms, Signs Of Heart Attack RESOURCES American Heart Association CDC Cardiovascular Heart Program National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

One out of every three American adults is now overweight to the point of being considered obese, according to experts, which has some people scared about having heart attacks.

Researchers in Florida have been studying 900 women over a four-year period who are overweight, but who are still able to remain active. Researchers discovered that those who were overweight or obese, but who could still perform strenuous activities, were able to keep their risk of heart disease low.

Researchers analyzed what the results might mean for other Americans and published their findings in Tuesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.

"There are many currently popular ways to lose weight, including specific diets or surgeries," said University of Florida researcher Dr. Timothy Wessel. "However, our study shows that the lack of physical fitness is a stronger risk factor for developing heart disease than being overweight or obese."

Wessel said that even women who had other risk factors like diabetes or blocked arteries were still at lower risk for heart problems if they were able to stay moderately physically fit.

"So, if you want to lose weight to reduce your risk of heart disease, you need to be sure to increase your physical fitness levels and increase your activity, rather than just losing weight alone," Wessel said.

Obesity is still a major risk factor for many health problems, and it is crucial that many Americans lose weight, according to experts. The study is meant to show that physical activity appears to be much a better way to go about it than dieting alone.