Search

Exercise interventions are powerful tools for helping many patient populations. For those who need to manage their weight, an exercise program combined with diet modification may be key to losing weight and keeping it off. Many patients who are already at healthy weights find that physical activity helps to prevent weight gain. The good news is that accumulating frequent short bouts of moderately intense activity can be as effective as performing longer exercise sessions less often. Aerobic exercise alone may not be enough to preserve lean muscle mass when weight is lost, but incorporating resistance exercise may prevent reductions in resting metabolic rate and lean body mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An active lifestyle can play an important role in helping overweight patients both lose and manage their weight. The traditional exercise prescription of regular bouts of continuous vigorous exercise may need to be modified to increase rates of adoption and compliance. Recent data suggest that accumulating several short bouts of moderate to vigorous activity each day may improve adherence to the program. Understanding the barriers to activity that overweight people face--such as fear or embarrassment--can help physicians prescribe appropriate exercise routines, which may ultimately help them with better weight management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]