Study Links Exercise and Obesity in U.S. Adults
Overview of Obesity in the U.S.
A recent study conducted in the United States explored the relationships between physical exercise, muscle strengthening, and obesity. During the period of 2015-2016, it was estimated that approximately 93.3 million adults in the U.S. were classified as obese. Obesity is linked to numerous serious health issues, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Consequently, identifying effective strategies to reduce obesity rates is critical.
Study Methodology
The study analyzed data from four public health surveillance surveys conducted between 2011 and 2017. It specifically focused on the connection between physical activity—defined as more than 150 minutes per week—muscle-strengthening activities—performed more than twice a week—and body mass index (BMI)-calculated obesity.
Key Findings
The research included data from 1,677,108 adults aged 18 and older. The findings revealed that approximately 1.7 million adults who met both the aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise guidelines exhibited a lower prevalence of obesity. This indicates that engaging in both types of exercise plays a significant role in reducing obesity rates among the adult population.
Conclusion
The results of this study underscore the importance of incorporating both aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercises into regular physical activity to combat obesity in adults.
References
Bennie, J.A. et al 2019. Muscle Strengthening, Aerobic Exercise, and Obesity: A Pooled Analysis of 17 Million US Adults. [Online]. [16 December 2019].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2019. Adult Obesity Facts. [Online]. [16 December 2019]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html
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