The Effects of Diet and Exercise on Weight Loss - When 2 Plus 2 Could Add Up To 22

The Effects of Diet and Exercise on Weight Loss - When 2 Plus 2 Could Add Up To 22

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized obesity as a global epidemic. In the United States, between 1960 and 2002, the prevalence of obesity among adults has doubled, and the prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents has tripled. Weight-loss has therefore become a buzzword in the media, and rightfully, a major focus for scientists, clinicians, educators, policy makers, and businesses. As a physical therapist and muscle physiologist, I am encouraged that the most common recommendation for weight-loss is ‘diet and exercise’; specifically, a reduction in calories consumed through diet and an increase in calories expended through physical activity and exercise.