Should we Focus on Bodybuilding or Cardio to Lose Weight?

A good way to lose weight is to practice sports, however, are all of them effective? In this article we'll analyze whether disciplines such as cardio or bodybuilding can help you with this goal.
Should we Focus on Bodybuilding or Cardio to Lose Weight?

Last update: 09 November, 2019

Losing weight is a constant battle for many people, especially as the summer months approach. When the good weather arrives, we all want to get into shape simply and quickly. The truth is that there are many healthy ways to eliminate those annoying extra pounds once and for all. Read along to find out if it’s best to focus on bodybuilding or cardio.

In order to reach a conclusion, we’ll analyze the objectives that are pursued by these sports. Then, we’ll evaluate whether or not they are compatible with weight loss.

We’ll also explain the points that you should take into account if you’d like to lose weight and the role that sports can play in helping you.

Choosing between bodybuilding and cardio: objectives of bodybuilding

Bodybuilding is one of the sports that will push the body to its limits. Sacrifice and motivation are key to achieving goals in this practice. The main objective of bodybuilding is to develop a muscular body with a minimum percentage of fat.

The goal of bodybuilding is to take muscle growth to its limits. Muscles should be a big, toned and as defined as possible. In order to achieve this, arduous and intense training is performed. Nutrition in these cases is mostly focused on proteins.

As you can see, the goals of bodybuilding are considerably different from those of anyone who wants to lose weight. The only thing they have in common is the desire to minimize the percentage of body fat. Apart from that, their goals are totally different.

Woman bodybuilding

Choosing between bodybuilding and cardio: objectives of cardio

The main objective of cardio is calorie loss and muscle toning. It can be practiced in many different intensities. It’s not better or worse than bodybuilding, it’s simply another sport with different objectives and different results.

Due to its objective of burning fat, cardio is recommended for weight loss. A good way to go about this is to focus on a sport that includes cardio. Keep in mind that a healthy diet is key, even if you practice cardio.

If you finally decide on cardio, you have to keep a few aspects in mind. If you consider all of the necessary aspects, you’ll be able to maximize results and reach your goals sooner.

Woman biking

Sports to lose weight

Sports play a vital role in weight loss. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, that’s probably one of the reasons that has caused you to accumulate excess weight.

The intensity and type of sport to be carried out depends on the goals and physical condition of each individual. However, it’s clear that you’ll have to carry out exercise if you want to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Basic sports that you should incorporate in your routine

Playing sports is not simply about joining the gym or going for a run. You can be active while carrying out your day to day activities. Some simple examples include: walking for an hour every day or stopping the use of the elevator at work.

These are small acts that will help you reach your goal sooner. In addition, they’ll not only help you lose weight but also help you to relieve stress.

Sports and weight loss

As we mentioned above, if you want to lose a few extra pounds, you don’t have to focus on bodybuilding or cardio. Who knows? You could start one of these activities with the goal of losing weight and end up enjoying it as a hobby.

In any case, if your only goal is to lose weight, it’s enough to do the basic activities mentioned above. You can also complement those activities with medium intensity cardio.

Bike rides, aerobics or step classes are all good choices. In addition, all of these choices have the great advantage of being fun. They can also be practiced in a group. Try to get your friends involved! That way it won’t be tough to reach your ideal weight.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Amzallag, W. (2000). De perder peso al control del peso: Experiencia de un programa. Revista Cubana de Investigaciones Biomedicas.

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.