How does exercise help control body fat?

Exercise helps control body fat primarily by increasing total daily energy expenditure, which helps maintain a healthy energy balance. According to the law of conservation of energy, if energy intake exceeds expenditure, the body stores the excess as fat in adipose tissue.1

By engaging in physical activity—which accounts for 20 to 40 percent of total energy expenditure—the body burns more calories, helping to create the energy deficit required to reduce fat stores. Research consistently shows that more active individuals tend to weigh less, and weight-loss programs that combine exercise with diet are more successful than those relying on diet alone.12

Furthermore, exercise helps mitigate the health risks associated with excess body weight, such as hypertension and unhealthy lipoprotein profiles, which are independent risk factors for coronary heart disease.2