Volume 196 - Issue 9
Why exercise is an important component of risk reduction in obesity management
Authors: Rosemary A McGinnes and Judy A Lowthian
Med J Aust 2012; 196 (9): 567-568. || doi: 10.5694/mja12.10353
Published online: 21 May 2012
Published online: 21 May 2012
To the Editor: We congratulate Green and Maiorana1 on their recent article highlighting the value of exercise in obesity management.
The urgent need for action to prevent further weight gain in adults and to reduce the proportion of
the population that is obese was recognised 25 years ago. However, despite massive public health efforts to reduce obesity ...
To the Editor: We congratulate Green and Maiorana1 on their recent article highlighting the value of exercise in obesity management.
The urgent need for action to prevent further weight gain in adults and to reduce the proportion of the population that is obese was recognised 25 years ago. However, despite massive public health efforts to reduce obesity among children and adults, its prevalence remains alarmingly high — in fact, it has increased during the past 15 years. One-quarter of the population are now considered obese,2 and this is projected to continue rising. By 2025, with population ageing, it has been estimated that 37% of people aged ≥ 65 years will be obese.3
With 40% of people aged 65–74 years and 57% of people aged ≥ 75 years classified as sedentary in 2008,2 the low level of physical activity in older people should be an area of vital concern. There is an abundance of evidence to demonstrate that physical activity is important for maintaining health and independence in older adults. Recommendations for physical activity to promote fitness, strength, balance and flexibility, incorporating advice for commencing and continuing activity,4 are possibly more important for the older population from a preventive health perspective.
Research on the effect of physical activity on obese older adults is limited,5 as is evidence regarding other issues associated with obesity in an ageing population. The impact of health care resource needs for this cohort will be considerable, as they are at substantially increased risk of multiple comorbidities, functional limitation and social isolation. While the importance of physical activity for older adults and its value in obesity management is well recognised, the challenge is to ensure this message is understood by those in a position to provide advice. Encouraging obese, older adults to participate in regular physical activity should be a priority.
Competing interests
No relevant disclosures.
References
- Green DJ, Maiorana AJ. Why exercise is an important component of risk reduction in obesity management. Med J Aust 2012; 196: 165-166. 0_CHDGGFHG
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. National Health Survey: summary of results, 2007–2008 (reissue). Canberra: ABS, 2009. (ABS Cat. No. 4364.0.) http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/4364.0Main%20Features12007-2008%20%28Reissue%29?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=4364.0&issue=2007-2008%20%28Reissue%29&num=&view= (accessed Mar 2012).
- Walls HL, Magliano DJ, Stevenson CE, et al. Projected progression of the prevalence of obesity in Australia. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2012; 20: 872-878. doi: 10.1038/oby.2010.338. 0_i1142872
- Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Recommendations on physical activity for health for older Australians. Canberra: DoHA, 2009. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/phd-physical-rec-older-guidelines (accessed Mar 2012).
- Davidson LE, Hudson R, Kilpatrick K, et al. Effects of exercise modality on insulin resistance and functional limitation in older adults: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med 2009; 169: 122-131. 0_i1142878