Exercise Treatment on Obesity

Abstract

The prevalence of overweight and obesity continues to rise globally among industrialized countries. A myriad of environmental, behavioral, physiological and genetic factors contribute to the development of human obesity; however, the common underlying feature leading to these conditions is a positive energy balance. The relative importance of excess energy intake over low energy expenditure to this imbalance is controversial. Inactivity and obesity are closely linked conditions accounting for a large burden of chronic disease and impaired function, indeed the popular press has called inactivity the “new cancer.” While there is substantial individual heterogeneity regarding weight loss responsiveness to an exercise regimen, the predominance of the data show that a combination of exercise, both aerobic and resistance, with caloric restriction is required to lose weight and maintain weight loss. This is especially important if the weight loss is to come from fat and not lean mass. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the role of exercise, with and without caloric restriction, in the prevention and treatment of obesity, preservation of lean mass during weight loss, prevention of weight regain, and optimization of health. This chapter will also address the contributions of the built environment to the onset and possible reversal of obesity at the population level.