The fundamental role of physical activity and exercise in weight management

Obesity has grown into one of the most troubling public health epidemics in the United States over the past two decades. The prevalence of obesity has doubled in adults, while the incidence of overweight children and adolescents has tripled since 1980 [1]. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) obtained from 2003 to 2004 reveal that 66.3% of adults are overweight and 32.2% of those meet the criteria for obesity [2]. In the United States, obesity is ranked second only to the use of tobacco as the leading preventable cause of death [3].