Could you really lose weight just by eating healthy and not exercising?
– Cindy*

Eating a healthy diet does not ensure that you will lose weight. Your weight is a balance between the calories you take in and the calories you burn. You will lose weight if you eat a low-calorie diet in which you burn off more calories than you take in, and you will gain weight if you eat more calories than you burn off. Adding physical activity allows you to burn more calories than dieting alone.

Any weight-loss plan that includes regular exercise is not only more successful — it's also healthier. By eating a healthy diet and exercising, you're keeping your bones, muscles, and heart strong and decreasing your risk of developing certain diseases. Even if you don't necessarily lose weight, you will be healthier and you will feel and look better, too.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: October 2010

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*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.