Via practica 11/2007

OBESITY AND SPORT ACTIVITY

Obesity is a major public health and economic problem and poses important challenges for society, health care and school-centered environments. The prevalence of obesity is increasing in both adult men and women worldwide. Successful treatment of obesity usually requires multiple interventions. Because of this increase over the past few decades it is important to focus not only on the treatment of obesity but also on the prevention of obesity in children and adults. Data from population-based surveys and longitudinal observational studies indicate that energy expended in physical activity has the potential to affect energy balance, so exercise may be an important strategy for prevention of weight gain and for improving long-term weight loss. In the long term, an active lifestyle and low-fat food habits in children and adults are expected to induce a substantial body weight loss in the obese.

Keywords: exercise, sport, obesity, prevention, weight loss.