When trying to lose weight, exercise alone just isn't enough.  You may, in fact, create more weight loss through diet alone, when compared to exercise.

"The literature is pretty clear that, in the short run, diet is way more important than activity for weight loss," said John Jakicic, a health researcher who was not involved in the Cochrane review.  "One candy bar can completely wipe out a bout of exercise," Jakicic said.

"Within six months, with diet alone we can get about a 9 or 10 kilogram weight loss, which is over 20 pounds, versus with activity we get about a 2 kilogram weight loss in that same period of time," said Jakicic, chair of the department of Health and Physical Activity at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education.

But don't discount the benefits of exercise.  "Diet is very important to get weight off.  But exercise seems to be one of those key factors for keeping weight off when you lose it...

...Those folks who only focus on diet and don't worry about the activity are really short-changing themselves," Jakicic said.

   To keep the weight off you must exercise to maintain muscle and bone strength, boost heart health, and lower the risks for cardiovascular disease.  

   Dr. Kelly Shaw is a public health physician with the Department of Health and Human Services in Tasmania, Australia and lead study author.

"If your main goal is health and well-being, then exercise offers you significant improvements in your blood pressure, lipids and your blood sugar," Shaw said.

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