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Abstract
Background: Overweight and obesity are significant public health concerns in the United States as well as worldwide. Physical activity is consistently recommended as an important lifestyle behaviour in the treatment of overweight and obesity. Objective monitoring of physical activity using portable devices may provide an enhanced understanding of the role of physical activity in body weight regulation, and these devices may prove to be effective intervention tools.
Objectives: The purpose of this manuscript is to provide an overview of the effect of physical activity as a treatment modality for overweight and obesity. Moreover, this will address the methods of objective monitoring of physical activity and related energy expenditure, along with consideration of these technologies within the context of intervention programs for weight loss.
Major findings: Physical activity without a reduction in energy intake appears to result in weight loss ranging from 1–3 kg. Portable multisensor devices have been shown to provide an acceptable estimate of energy expenditure resulting from physical activity. It may be beneficial to incorporate these devices and this technology within the context of weight control interventions to facilitate accurate self-monitoring of physical activity behaviour. Moreover, inclusion of these devices and technology within lifestyle interventions facilitates weight loss in overweight and obese adults.
Conclusions: Physical activity is an important lifestyle behaviour in the treatment of overweight and obesity. Interventions should consider the inclusion of objective monitoring of physical activity to facilitate self-monitoring of this behaviour and to enhance physical activity participation, which appears to improve weight loss.