More than half of adult Americans are overweight or obese, and public health recommendations call for weight loss in those who are overweight with associated medical conditions or who are obese. However, some controversy exists in the lay press and in the medical literature about the health risks of obesity. We review briefly the large body of evidence indicating that higher levels of body weight and body fat are associated with an increased risk for the development of numerous adverse health consequences. Efforts to prevent further weight gain in adults at risk for overweight and obesity are essential. For those whose present or future health is at risk because of their obesity and who are motivated to make lifestyle changes, a recommendation for weight loss is appropriate.

Many studies have associated increased physical and 65 per cent of men respectively were judged to activity with a reduction in subsequent coronary be in heavy physical work, showed less electromorbidity and mortality (Morris et al., 1953; Fox cardiographic ischaemia than male clerks (Menotti and Haskell, 1968; Brunner et al., 1974; Paffenbar-et al., 1969). However, these authors were reluctant ger and Hale, 1975), but few have examined its to conclude that there was a definite association relation to electrocardiographic evidence of sub-between occupational physical activity and coronary clinical myocardial ischaemia. In Finland, Karvonen health because they were unable to exclude the et al. (1961) found fewer abnormal electrocardio-possibility that other factors relevant for coronary grams among lumberjacks than among men in other heart disease also differed between the groups occupations. Keys et al. (1966)

No abstract

This article aims to examine the factors that motivate middle-aged women to engage in leisure physical activity (LPA) and to explore the relationship between resources loss and gains and engaging in LPA. It is a cross-sectional study based on a self-reported questionnaire (n = 949), using variables of the conservation of resources theory and the theory of planned behavior. Results show that women who engage in physical activity experience lower resources loss than inactive women. The longer they engage in physical activity, the less they experience losses such as youth, attractiveness, optimism, health, and beauty. Conservation of resources, perceived behavioral control, attitudes, and normative beliefs predict 41% (p < .0001) of the variance in the engagement in leisure physical activity. Findings suggest that constructing effective strategies to promote LPA requires also addressing these factors, which are valued by middle-aged women.

No abstract