Exercise Intervention

Exercise has been associated with decreased instances of heart disease, dyslipidemia (cholesterol abnormalities), hypertension (high blood pressure), renal (kidney) disease, hyperinsulinemia, type II diabetes, cancer, osteoarthritis, and mortality 8 .  Individuals that exercise not only experience lower disease risk; they report mental differences such as improved mood 75 .  Exercise has been shown to be beneficial for individuals of normal weight as well as for those that are overweight and obese 42,43.

According to recent studies, prevalence of obesity in the U.S. has increased from the year 1976 to 2000 by over 15 percent 23. Many studies have linked obesity to cardiovascular disease and premature death 22,52.  With such associations and increased prevalence, obesity in the U.S. is a public health problem of epidemic proportions.

Exercise is established as an effective option for obesity treatment.  Research primarily focuses on two strategies: (1) Exercise for weight loss, with the philosophy that lower body weight can lead to better health. (2) Exercise for health and fitness, with the philosophy that appropriate exercise can lead to better health, no matter what the resulting weight change.

In order to loose weight an energy deficit must be met 33.  Essentially, this means that throughout the day and individual must burn (expend) more calories than they consume (absorb) from food.  Many attempt to loose weight by dietary modification alone.  This, when done appropriately can garner positive results 73.  However, many individuals that modify their diet do so inappropriately by either not getting enough calories or choosing diets that lack proper nutrients and balance 73.  The cliché term, yo-yo dieting, is often used to describe the up-and-down weight fluctuations that can occur with drastic dietary plans.  Some studies imply that weight fluctuations may be more harmful than remaining overweight 31.

Diet alone is seldom recommended by health and medicine based professional organizations.  One reason is that diet without exercise does not improve cardiorespiratory fitness 62.

The combination of a reduction in energy intake and an increase in energy expenditure through structured exercise and other forms of physical activity are recommended as a weight loss intervention 33.

Exercise can be a key component for inducing an energy deficit 33.  When an individual exercises, they expend more calories then when sedentary.  Research has demonstrated that structured exercise interventions alone can produce weight loss as well as changes in body composition 66.  However, most people do not participate in such structured programs 31.

Exercise for Health and Fitness

Physical activity, correct exercise, and healthy eating are a healthy alternative to weight loss through improper dieting habits that involve inadequate caloric consumption and/or lack of balance 73. 

Recent research explored the effects of cardiorespiratory fitness on men of various BMI’s and body compositions 42. What such studies found is that the health benefits of being lean are limited to fit individuals.
Summary of results

• Unfit lean men have double the mortality risk of fit lean mean
• Unfit lean men have a higher mortality risk and cardiovascular disease than men who are fit and obese
• Unfit men have a higher risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease than fit men in all categories of fat and fat-free mass
• Unfit men with low waist girths have a higher risk of mortality than fit men with high waist girths
• Being obese does not appear to increase mortality risk in fit men

Such findings indicate that obese men should be encouraged to increase their cardiorespiratory fitness through regular, moderate intensity physical activity 42,43.  Benefits should be achieved even if they remain overweight.
Other studies have similar findings.  Research by Paffenbarger et al. found that sedentary men who gained at least 15 pounds of weight since college experienced mortality rates 53 to 96 percent higher than men who had similar weight gain, but were physically active 61.

Statistically speaking, obesity is a health problem in the United States.  Obesity may only be a health problem when it is due to physical inactivity, lack of fitness, and other unhealthy lifestyle choices.

Exercise for fitness enhancement may deserve to be the primary focus of an exercise program.  A program that has health and fitness as its main goal can improve health and increase longevity.  In addition to improved fitness, a consistent exercise program will often initiate weight change in the previously sedentary 66.