It is true that cardiovascular exercise burns energy and can lead to weight loss, but your son is right — so does weight training. In fact, weight training helps build muscle mass, and more muscle mass uses more calories, meaning you'll burn excess fat faster. Weight training can also permanently raise your metabolic rate so that you'll have a better chance of keeping off the weight that you do lose.

You should do at least 30 minutes to an hour of cardiovascular exercise almost every day of the week and add some weight training to two of those days to build muscle mass. The bottom line? For weight loss, weight maintenance, and overall good health, you should do both cardiovascular exercise and weight training.

Learn more in the Everyday Health Diet and Nutrition Center.