How can physical activity help prevent overweight and obesity?
Physical activity, along with a healthy diet, plays an important role in the prevention of overweight and obesity (USDHHS, 2001). In order to maintain a stable weight, a person needs to expend the same amount of calories as he or she consumes. Although the body burns calories for everyday functions such as breathing, digestion, and routine daily activities, many people consume more calories than they need for these functions each day. A good way to burn off extra calories and prevent weight gain is to engage in regular physical activity beyond routine activities. The Energy Balance is like a scale. To remain in balance, the calories consumed (from foods) must be balanced by the calories used (in physical activity). The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 offers the following example of the balance between consuming and using calories: If you eat 100 more food calories a day than you burn, youll gain about 1 pound in a month. Thats about 10 pounds in a year. The bottom line is that to
Physical activity, along with a healthy diet, plays an important role in the prevention of overweight and obesity. In order to maintain a stable weight, a person needs to expend the same amount of calories as he or she consumes. Although the body burns calories for everyday functions such as breathing, digestion, and routine daily activities, many people consume more calories than they need for these functions each day. A good way to burn off extra calories and prevent weight gain is to engage in regular physical activity beyond routine activities.
Physical activity, along with a healthy diet, plays an important role in the prevention of overweight and obesity (USDHHS, 2001). In order to maintain a stable weight, a person needs to expend the same amount of calories as he or she consumes. Although the body burns calories for everyday functions such as breathing, digestion, and routine daily activities, many people consume more calories than they need for these functions each day. A good way to burn off extra calories and prevent weight gain is to engage in regular physical activity beyond routine activities.
Physical activity, along with a healthy diet, plays an important role in the prevention of overweight and obesity (USDHHS, 2001). In order to maintain a stable weight, a person needs to expend the same amount of calories as he or she consumes. Although the body burns calories for everyday functions such as breathing, digestion, and routine daily activities, many people consume more calories than they need for these functions each day. A good way to burn off extra calories and prevent weight gain is to engage in regular physical activity beyond routine activities. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 offers the following example of the balance between consuming and using calories: If you eat 100 more food calories a day than you burn, youll gain about 1 pound in a month. Thats about 10 pounds in a year. The bottom line is that to lose weight, its important to reduce calories and increase physical activity.
