When people exercise, their bodies sometimes reduce energy use in other ways to offset the calories burned, but in most cases, this reduction is less than 69%, so overall energy expenditure still goes up.

We analyzed the available evidence on energy compensation during exercise and found that 72 studies suggest the body’s tendency to reduce energy use in other areas—like resting metabolism or daily movement—is typically less than 69% of the calories burned during exercise, meaning total daily energy expenditure usually increases. At the same time, 38 studies indicate this isn’t always the case, showing that for some people, the body may compensate more strongly, limiting the net rise in energy burned. What we’ve found so far is that while many people do experience a net increase in daily energy use after exercising, the degree of compensation varies. Energy compensation refers to how the body might lower energy spent on other tasks—like fidgeting, digestion, or even subconscious movement—to balance out the extra calories used during a workout. When compensation is below 69%, the overall energy burned in a day still rises. The evidence leans toward this being common, but not universal. We don’t know why compensation differs between individuals, or whether factors like fitness level, diet, or genetics play a role. The studies we reviewed don’t provide enough detail to say whether this pattern holds for all types of exercise, all body types, or over long periods. For now, the evidence suggests that for many people, exercise does lead to a meaningful increase in total daily energy expenditure, even when the body tries to adjust. But it’s not guaranteed for everyone. If you’re trying to boost your daily calorie burn through movement, exercise is still likely to help—but don’t assume your body won’t adapt in ways you can’t see.