One of the UK’s leading surgeons has claimed that people desiring to lose weight should stop worrying about exercise and instead simply eat less. While addressing the House of Lords, Lord McColl critiqued the British government for focusing on the promotion of exercise as a means for attacking obesity, claiming that a lower calorie diet will suffice. The Daily Mail reports that he asked Health Minister Earl Howe ‘Why does the Department of Health insist that exercise is important in this equation?”, disregarding the scientifically sound proof that exercise can aid and prevent many chronic illnesses, including heart disease and diabetes.

While a healthy diet is key to losing weight and keeping it off, Lord McColl is irresponsible in trivializing the health benefits of an active lifestyle. Working out can not only burn calories, but is a tried and true weapon in the fight for longevity. Exercise can improve your mood and self image, may stave off certain cancers, Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, heart attacks and the list goes on. A steady diet of water and cigarettes can keep pounds off (at least in the short term), but would be devastating to your health. Lord McColl is doing folks a major disservice by implying that eating little is enough to keep slim and trim, or that slim= healthy. Don’t believe the hype!