Fitness coach shares simple cheat sheet to burn fat without hitting the gym: The answer is ‘NEAT’

Updated on: Jan 4, 2026, 14:10:36 IST

By Debapriya Bhattacharya

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Doing household chores can help individuals lose nearly 400 calories every day, shares Priyank Mehta. (Pexel)

When it comes to losing fat, leading an active lifestyle has a significant impact, even when compared to working out at the gym, according to Priyank Mehta.

There are several ways to achieve our weight loss goals, with exercise and following a tailored diet being among the most widely adopted approaches. However, it is not just dedicated activities that help burn fat off our bodies, shared fitness coach Priyank Mehta.

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Taking to Instagram on December 23, 2025, he explained how a major part of daily fat loss comes from small activities that are considered a part of a regular lifestyle. The phenomenon is known by the acronym NEAT, which stands for Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis.⁣

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A post shared by Priyank Mehta | Fitness Coach (@getsetfit)

Movements that impact NEAT

In the caption of his post, Prinyank categorised “all the movement you don’t call ‘exercise’” as the ones responsible for NEAT. These include:

Walking around the house⁣
Taking stairs⁣
Doing chores such as cleaning the house, walking the dog⁣
Stretching⁣
Standing, fidgeting, and moving more throughout the day

NEAT helps burn 200 to 400 calories every day without engaging in any extra workout. “This is where most fat-loss plans fail,” he noted. “They obsess over workouts and ignore lifestyle.⁣”

Going to the gym is important to develop strength, muscles, and overall health. “Workout is the bonus.⁣ NEAT is the backbone.”

Benefits of NEAT

According to the Cleveland Clinic’s sports medicine physician, Michael Dakkak, NEAT is a gateway to exercise for people settled in their sedentary lifestyles. Over time, it allows individuals the following benefits:

Less weight gain
Improved circulation
Better heart health
Fewer aches and pains
Healthy blood sugar levels
Better focus
Improved mood
More energy
More independence with increasing age

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debapriya Bhattacharya
Debapriya Bhattacharya is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times. He started his career in 2022, working in newsrooms in beats like education, US news, trending stories, and entertainment. In his new role in the lifestyle desk, he seeks to deliver a balanced blend of research-driven reporting and creative storytelling from health and recipes to art and culture. Science, philosophy, food and pop culture are what pump his veins and help bring heart to his stories. Debapriya tries to see out subjects that will allow him and readers to explore new frontiers and improve the quality of life for all. The explorations can be both external and internal, as thoughts seek to be as chaotic as the greater universe. As a citizen of the world, Debapriya has been fascinated by the lives of people across the globe throughout time. His curiosity leads him to explore new linguistic and cultural landscapes to broaden his horizons and deepen his understanding of global narratives. Beyond the newsroom, Debapriya loves to participate in debate and theatre, spaces that he considers to be holy grounds for nuance and self-expression. A graduate from Ashutosh College, University of Calcutta, Debapriya completed his Master's degree from the same university in 2022. An ambiverted bibliophile, he loves his solitude as much as he adores stimulating conversations. And despite his reverence for tech, libraries continue to be his favourite place for research.Read More

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