Exercise Doesn't Make You Thin

by Bev Sklar (Subscribe to Bev Sklar's posts)
Aug 11th 2009 9:00AM

Photo: fontplaydotcom, Flickr

Caution: While exercise promotes cardiovascular health and builds muscle, you can't count on it to banish your muffin top. TIME recently took a closer look at why experts say exercise doesn't necessarily make you thin.

Today, most of us equate intense workouts with shedding unwanted pounds, but that hasn't always been the case. We've gone from doctors in the '60s frowning upon rigorous exercise, to morbidly obese contestants on "The Biggest Loser" puking on treadmills during grueling workouts. One prominent exercise researcher says exercising for weight loss is pretty useless. In a study published earlier this year, overweight women assigned to a trainer several days a week for six months didn't lose significantly more pounds than a control group asked to complete monthly medical-symptom questionnaires, yet move and eat the same.

But what about taut muscles burning more fat? One pound of muscle burns six calories a day in a resting body compared to the two calories burned in a pound of fat. Converting 10 pounds of fat to muscle is an amazing feat, but calorie-wise, all it means is the ability to scarf an extra 40 calories per day. Forget flexing your emerging bicep to lift that frothy smoothie, you'll gain weight.

The cloud over exercise for weight loss turned even darker when one 18-month study of kids found that when they started to exercise, they ate an average of 100 calories more than they burned. One childhood obesity expert pointed out energy expenditure is the main determinant of dietary intake, and those McDonald's Playlands could be triggering kids to reach for more fries.

Another bummer -- lots of exercise during part of the day often makes you more sedentary during non-exercise hours. Private school kids receiving 9.2 hours of physical education a week didn't move any more than kids at other schools enrolled in PE for only 2.4 hours or less a week. Kids super-active in school are likely resting more at home because they blew through so much energy. And another study revealed kids darting around the house are just as healthy as those enrolled in organized sports requiring intense, sustained exercise.

That's not to say exercise isn't fantastic for your heart, emotions, mobility, cognition and disease prevention. But when it comes to buying smaller jeans, watch out -- those two-hour gym extravaganzas could very well be undermining your ability to control what you shove in your mouth while reclining in exhaustion on the couch.

Kind of makes you want to throw in the gym towel, doesn't it?

Tell us what you think: Does stepping up your workout routine help you reach your weight loss goals? Or is it all about how you eat?

Comments (7)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Sean 8-11-2009 @ 9:31AM

Everyone is entitled to their opinion... I enjoy working out once I start. Starting can sometimes be the issue!

Radha 8-11-2009 @ 9:49AM

I read this article in Time yesterday, and found it to be quite appalling. The article continues on and on about how exercise makes you hungrier. That is true, but the reason people get fat from more exercise is because they reach for the wrong foods to satisfy that hunger. If a person eats a muffins, cookies, chips, high calorie starbucks coffees, and the like, of course they'll gain weight. But if they reach for big servings of fresh vegetables or fruit, they're more likely to be full, healthy, and able to lose weight more easily. I was very disappointed with the article. The problem is not more exercise. The problem is a bad choice of food.

Despite these so-called experts' advice, I'm going to continue my moderate regular exercise while also maintaining a healthy, balanced diet sans the junk food and watch the pounds melt away. It feels good, and it's necessary for an overall healthy lifestyle.

Sally 8-11-2009 @ 11:37AM

I read the Time article, and while I think the article raises some valid points, to say that exercise is completely useless for losing weight is a bit extreme. I think the biggest issue with hunger increasing after exercise is lack of knowledge: many people don't understand the concept of calories or macronutrients. Obviously self control plays a role, but I think education is the key.

Diet is 80%, exercise 20%. That 20% is still important! And if your concern is not only weight loss, but a strong, healthy, attractive body, exercise is necessary. Dieting alone will not build biceps or abs of steel. Who wants to be skinny fat???

Marge 8-11-2009 @ 6:33PM

Muscle weighs more than fat. This is not news. Studies like this shouldn't use weight as an outcome of interest, but % body fat. I'd rather be heavy and toned than light and pudgy any day. Keep working out people. Jeez.

gstallkamp 8-11-2009 @ 5:26PM

Exercise and proper diet can help you lose weight, stay in shape, or even gain weight, if necessary. The trick is sticking to a fitness routine. An online fitness tool like Holosfitness.com can help you ensure that you will stick to your fitness routine. The site helps you track your fitness routines over time to ensure greater success. Holosfitness.com has hundreds of exercises with step-by-step instruction, all of which are listed for free.

Sonia 8-11-2009 @ 5:34PM

I agree with all the previous comments. Bare in mind that most articles are geared to those one sided thinkers.

For instance: "Converting 10 pounds of fat to muscle is an amazing feat, but calorie-wise, all it means is the ability to scarf an extra 40 calories per day."

I think many people fail to realize simple truths such as this, imagining that an hour of walking and a few sit-ups is canceling out a cheeseburger and fries. Notsomuch.

ncetin 8-13-2009 @ 11:37PM

I don't think exercise increases appetite, I have read that exercising can decrease appetite for unhealthy foods. Also for me at least after i come back from a run I am not hungry at all and have to wait 30-45 min before I even feel like I can eat. However if people are hungrier from working out they need to choose filling, healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. Working out and eating healthy WILL help you lose weight, this spring i just started eating healthier and going for runs 4-6 times a week and lost 10 lbs with out even intending to.