Do I need to eat less if I don't burn off 200 calories in exercise?

No – it is not necessary to reduce your food intake by 200 calories if you don't achieve the exercise target, however, anything you can do helps with your weekly rate of weight loss.

To lose 1lb a week you need to create a calorie deficit of between 500-600 calories a day. This is best achieved by eating less and exercising more – hence why you are also set a target to burn 200 calories each day in additional activity.

Burning the extra 200 calories is especially important if your daily target is 1,400 calories to ensure that you lose weight at the rate you have selected – plus increasing your activity level has so many positive benefits on your physical and mental health! Without it, you can still lose weight successfully by controlling your food intake, but it may take you a little longer to reach your goal.