The Association Between Physical Activity and Obesity: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Obesity and overweight represent major public health challenges due to their widespread prevalence and associated adverse outcomes. Substantial evidence highlights the protective role of physical activity in mitigating these conditions and related health risks. This systematic review seeks to examine the relationship between physical activity and obesity. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using the terms "adult," "overweight," "obesity," "physical activity," and "exercise." The review analyzed the relationship between physical activity and obesity-related indicators, including BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percentage, across human populations of varying age groups. The findings of this review support an inverse association between physical activity levels and both the prevalence and incidence of obesity across diverse age groups and populations. Regular engagement in physical activity is associated with lower obesity risk, improved body composition, and favorable metabolic outcomes, whereas sedentary behavior emerged as a key modifiable risk factor. To mitigate the global burden of obesity, public health strategies should prioritize policies and interventions that encourage sustained physical activity from early life stages.