Exercise to Reduce Obesity
Health Problem of Obesity
The public health problem of overweight and
obesity is growing larger. Recent USA weight statistics indicate that
more than 1 in 3 American adults are seriously overweight (obese). Obesity
in teenagers is so serious that doctors are now using bariatric surgery
procedures on teens. Furthermore, obesity (now the No 2 cause of premature
death) is linked to the rise in type 2 diabetes, reflected in the emergence
of a new word: "diabesity".
Exercise Program: Vital in Obesity Treatment
The role of physical activity in relation
to overweight or obesity and health status is mentioned in most reports
and recommendations on obesity treatment, but has not received appropriate
emphasis. The facts are, that physical fitness reduces the risk of weight
gain over time, is useful in weight loss programs, appears to be crucial
in maintaining weight loss, and provides health benefits to overweight
and obese individuals. Indeed, weight research data suggests that low
fitness levels, caused by sedentary living habits, is more important than
obesity as a predictor of mortality.
Best Type of Exercise Program to Reduce
Obesity
Aerobic
exercise is the better form of fitness training to burn calories and
body fat. However, while cardio-aerobic
workouts burn calories faster, anaerobic
exercise - such as strength
training, weight-training
or resistance workouts
- are also important to raise resting metabolic rate and reduce weight
in the long term. Lifting
weights or circuit-training
are also effective for improving muscle-to-fat ratio and lowering body-fat-percentage.
All in all, regular exercise
helps weight loss. That said, calorie-control is crucial for any weight
loss program, so obesity is best treated with a combination of a weight-reducing
exercises and a healthy calorie-controlled diet.
Sources include:
- President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
- Cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and all-cause and cardiovascular
disease mortality in men. Am J Clin Nutr1999; 69:373-80. Wei M et al.
- Relationship between low cardiorespiratory fitness and mortality in
normal-weight, overweight, and obese men. JAMA 1999; 282:1547-53
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