Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use exercise to lose weight?

Combining physical activity with a healthy diet is an important part of maintaining a healthy weight. It can also help in losing weight and helping to keep the weight off, once lost. However, a really important point to note is that the health benefits you gain from physical activity are generally independent of body weight. So if you are overweight and exercising, you will be still be benefiting your health even if you don’t lose weight!

The amount of physical activity needed to achieve and maintain a healthy weight is very individual, with some people needing to do more than others. You may find that you have to do more than the 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week to keep your weight at a healthy level. People who are trying to lose a significant amount of weight or keep their weight at a healthy level having lost weight, often have to do more than 300 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week.  For people who want to lose weight, combining exercise with calorie restriction is more effective than just exercise or diet alone.

Check our Healthy Eating pages for more information on food.