Pilates for weight loss - does it work? Experts reveal what you need to know and 5 workouts to try

Woman doing Pilates on yoga mat in living room next to kitchen counter and sofa, looking at laptop for video.

If you're looking to lose weight, you'll know a combination of exercise and good nutrition is the way forward. Pilates can be part of that exercise routine, helping to strengthen your body and challenge it in new ways.

First things first, the primary aim of Pilates is not to help with weight loss. The Pilates technique was invented by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s to help returning soldiers rehabilitate from injury and improve their fitness, so it's not a workout that's designed to be calorie-burning. In recent years, social media and emphasis on Pilates abs workouts and Pilates with weights have painted a slightly different picture.