Biomaterial Database

Physical activity in the treatment of obesity: beyond body weight reduction. 2007

Peter M Janiszewski, and Robert Ross

School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

The prevalence of obesity is high and continues to increase. Obesity is a leading risk factor for premature mortality and numerous chronic health conditions. The role of physical activity as a treatment and (or) preventive strategy for combating obesity has been the subject of substantial research. Most of this research has focused solely on reductions in total body weight and (or) fat mass as the indicator of treatment success. Because the deposition of fat in the abdomen and nonadipose tissues of the liver and muscle plays a major role in the development of obesity-related health risk, these depots have emerged as alternative targets for obesity treatment. Absent from previous reviews is a detailed consideration of the influence of physical activity on these treatment outcomes. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the independent role of physical activity in the treatment of obesity in a broader context; that is, through its effects on abdominal obesity and liver and muscle fat, in addition to its established effects on body weight and (or) total fat mass. Consideration is also given to the utility of physical activity with minimal or no weight loss in the treatment of obesity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008055	Lipids	A generic term for fats and lipoids, the alcohol-ether-soluble constituents of protoplasm, which are insoluble in water. They comprise the fats, fatty oils, essential oils, waxes, phospholipids, glycolipids, sulfolipids, aminolipids, chromolipids (lipochromes), and fatty acids. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Lipid
D009765	Obesity	A status with BODY WEIGHT that is grossly above the recommended standards, usually due to accumulation of excess FATS in the body. The standards may vary with age, sex, genetic or cultural background. In the BODY MASS INDEX, a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 is considered obese, and a BMI greater than 40.0 kg/m2 is considered morbidly obese (MORBID OBESITY).
D005234	Fatty Liver	Lipid infiltration of the hepatic parenchymal cells resulting in a yellow-colored liver. The abnormal lipid accumulation is usually in the form of TRIGLYCERIDES, either as a single large droplet or multiple small droplets. Fatty liver is caused by an imbalance in the metabolism of FATTY ACIDS.	Liver Steatosis,Steatohepatitis,Steatosis of Liver,Visceral Steatosis,Liver Steatoses,Liver, Fatty,Steatohepatitides,Steatoses, Liver,Steatoses, Visceral,Steatosis, Liver,Steatosis, Visceral,Visceral Steatoses
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000886	Anthropometry	The technique that deals with the measurement of the size, weight, and proportions of the human or other primate body.
D015431	Weight Loss	Decrease in existing BODY WEIGHT.	Weight Reduction,Loss, Weight,Losses, Weight,Reduction, Weight,Reductions, Weight,Weight Losses,Weight Reductions
D015444	Exercise	Physical activity which is usually regular and done with the intention of improving or maintaining PHYSICAL FITNESS or HEALTH. Contrast with PHYSICAL EXERTION which is concerned largely with the physiologic and metabolic response to energy expenditure.	Aerobic Exercise,Exercise, Aerobic,Exercise, Isometric,Exercise, Physical,Isometric Exercise,Physical Activity,Acute Exercise,Exercise Training,Activities, Physical,Activity, Physical,Acute Exercises,Aerobic Exercises,Exercise Trainings,Exercise, Acute,Exercises,Exercises, Acute,Exercises, Aerobic,Exercises, Isometric,Exercises, Physical,Isometric Exercises,Physical Activities,Physical Exercise,Physical Exercises,Training, Exercise,Trainings, Exercise
D050153	Abdominal Fat	Fatty tissue in the region of the ABDOMEN. It includes the ABDOMINAL SUBCUTANEOUS FAT and the INTRA-ABDOMINAL FAT.	Adipose Tissue, Abdominal,Abdominal Adipose Tissue,Fat, Abdominal,Abdominal Fats,Fats, Abdominal
D018482	Muscle, Skeletal	A subtype of striated muscle, attached by TENDONS to the SKELETON. Skeletal muscles are innervated and their movement can be consciously controlled. They are also called voluntary muscles.	Anterior Tibial Muscle,Gastrocnemius Muscle,Muscle, Voluntary,Plantaris Muscle,Skeletal Muscle,Soleus Muscle,Muscle, Anterior Tibial,Muscle, Gastrocnemius,Muscle, Plantaris,Muscle, Soleus,Muscles, Skeletal,Muscles, Voluntary,Skeletal Muscles,Tibial Muscle, Anterior,Voluntary Muscle,Voluntary Muscles