it helps them to lose weight. Were they to be told that exercise may not help shift the calories, but has various undoubted health benefits, many peopel would simply cancel their gym subscriptions. "Making up our half an hour of not being sedentary does take an effort," That is just the problem: most of those who are chronically overweight are just too lazy to do any exercise more strenuous than twiddling with the remote on their TVs and too fond of stuffing themselves with burgers and chips. But is there any hard evidence that exercise has a significant effect on weight loss? Scientists such as Gary Taubes have challenged the weight loss-exercise linkage, claiming that, counter-intuitive though it may sound, exercise doesn't actually have much to do with losing weight. Is losing weight more important than general fitness though? Many rugby players would be considered medically obese, despite the fact that they are far fitter than the the majority of people. I know some skinny people who couldn't run to the end of their street. I know there's obviously a desirable balance, but I would rather be fit and big than skinny and unhealthy. "But is there any hard evidence that exercise has a significant effect on weight loss?" Yes of course there is, there's plenty. You just eat less than the energy lost through exercise: that is simple physics. What Taubes is saying isthat obesity is caused by an addiction to refined carbohydrates. This isn't entirely true, but is