In a nutshell, Time Magazine tells us that working out to lose weight is a waste of time.

The basic problem is that while it’s true that exercise burns calories and that you must burn calories to lose weight, exercise has another effect: it can stimulate hunger. That causes us to eat more, which in turn can negate the weight-loss benefits we just accrued. Exercise, in other words, isn’t necessarily helping us lose weight. It may even be making it harder.

The LA Times fires back, citing a high correlation between those who exercise and those who lose weight. In other words, while some people will eat back their calories, there’s evidence that others don’t.

While losing weight is not the only reason to exercise, it’s the primary reason for millions of people who sign up for gym memberships each year. I’d be interested to see if this article impacts gyms around the country…