Why does exercise not help you lose weight?

As summer approaches, a lot of people are hitting the gym with the goal of slimming down. Maybe you’re aiming to shed a few pounds and show off a toned figure at the beach. Naturally, the first reflex is often to hop on a treadmill or lift some weights. But here’s the thing: while exercise is great for you, it’s not always the most effective way to lose weight. To lose fat, you have to burn more calories than you consume. Simple enough. But in reality, the bulk of your daily calorie burn comes from basic body functions, things like breathing, pumping blood, regulating temperature, and even thinking. So does exercise burn more calories or not? So is exercise still worth it?In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠Is it good to have aches and pains after doing sport?⁠ ⁠How can I improve my sporting performance through mental preparation?⁠ ⁠What are the health impacts of taking public transport?⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 23/6/2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices