I'm not familiar with the specific research you mention. You do raise a broader issue, though, of the role of exercise in the broader public health.
I think there's a fair amount of literature on that, which indicates that rather than simply calorie expenditure, there are other mental and physical characteristics that are beneficial to people who exercise regularly. They tend to have fewer bad habits. They tend to have less osteoporosis. They tend to have fewer other things.
So it's only part of a comprehensive strategy, but we all know that the avoidance of obesity or a weight loss strategy that depends on exercise alone has certain limitations. With regard to the research, I think my colleague may know something that I don't.