Exercise Physiology: Theory and Application to Fitness and Performance 9th Edition by Scott Powers, Edward Howley

Exercise 16

What recommendations would you give about the use of diet alone versus a combination of diet and exercise to achieve a weight-loss goal?

Step 1 of 2

When a person exercises, calories are burnt that results in caloric deficit. However, a person who decreases calorie intake experiences the same caloric deficit. Moreover, the contribution of exercise alone to weight loss is modest. When compared to caloric deficit induced by diet, the energy deficit caused by exercise is only a fraction of that of diet. However, there exists a difference in how the weight loss occurs.

In persons who have caloric deficit induced by diet, there is loss of fat along with lean mass also. However, those who exercise experience weight loss only due to loss of fat while the muscle mass is preserved.