**2. Exercise as an adjunct weight loss strategy**

The most common strategy employed globally for weight loss is the use of dietary intervention or the cutting of calories [10]. This strategy is based on the "calories in versus calories out" model and maintains that you will lose weight if you take in less calories than you use. Problematically, the human body is more complex than that. Human bodies are not static and have a multitude of fluctuations in energy needs, such as stress and activity levels. Further, even the timing and composition of meals will affect nutrient intake, such as the thermic effect of food [11].

Further reasons against the use of caloric restriction strategies for weight loss arise from research findings that treatments relying only on energy restriction commonly cause substantial loss of lean mass [12]. Further, severe caloric restriction is also associated with impairment of muscle dysfunction and aerobic capacity, which is especially detrimental for athletes [13].

Thankfully, the addition of exercise, has frequently been shown to mitigate this loss in lean mass and physiological impairments [12], and potentially offset athletic performance decrements. Exercise is especially useful with weight loss in that it acutely increases energy and lipid utilisation and contributes to increases in lean mass and metabolic rate, which indirectly aids weight loss [14]. It is for this reason that exercise is considered an important component of weight loss and perhaps the best predictor of weight maintenance [15]. Specifically, at least 30 min a day of moderate intensity aerobic exercise per day is recommended for weight loss and maintenance but greater amounts appear to increase the magnitude of weight loss and maintenance [15].
