If you want to lose weight the best way to do is exercise than dieting – a new research study says. According to this study for middle-aged people cardio workouts can work more effectively in weight loss than counting calories.

Those who do dieting and exercise lose the significant amount of weight. But there is a significant difference in how they work.

Exercisers maintain their strength and muscle mass and increase aerobic capacity, whereas dieters lose muscle mass, strength and aerobic capacity. Exercisers also improve physical performance capacity apart from losing weight. But exercise needs some extra time and effort.

Dieters lose muscle mass, but exercisers not because they routinely challenge their muscles. This prevents muscle tissue from degrading. At the same time, dieters won’t work their muscles as vigorously as exercisers do.

Once one loses weight, his or her muscles need not work as hard at everyday movements like rising from a chair or walking up steps. It’s because as they’re carrying a lighter load, less demand is put on them.

So, by all means, exercise is better than dieting for weight loss.