Diet vs Exercise: What Matters Most?

Diet and exercise are both important for optimal health, but diet and exercise can play different roles when trying to lose weight. For weight loss, diet seems to be more effective than physical activity. Diet is probably more important for losing weight.  Physical activity for keeping it off.

Achieving a calorie deficit through diet modifications is key for weight loss, while exercise provides many benefits that help sustain your results.

To lose weight you must be in a calorie deficit, meaning your body expends more calories than you consume.  This can be achieved by eating and drinking fewer calories, burning more calories from physical activity, or a combination of two.

While both diet and exercise are important for weight loss. It’s generally easier to manage your calorie intake by modifying your diet than it is to burn significantly more calories through exercise.