Physical Activity and Obesity - Underlying Mechanisms, Practical Actions

Abstract

Individuals with obesity who undergo surgical or pharmacological therapies achieve good results in terms of weight and cardiometabolic risk reduction. It is not uncommon for those affected to equate the extent of weight loss achieved, with long-term treatment success. What is overlooked is that, in addition to obesity, significant weight loss also carries a risk of sarcopenia. Sarcopenic obesity and sarcopenia, in turn, increase the risk of cardiometabolic diseases. Physical activity has the potential to counteract cardiometabolic disease risk caused by obesity and sarcopenia. The underlying mechanism is contained in the endocrine organ skeletal muscle. The production and release of myokines in particular counteracts sarcopenic obesity and its complications. Physical activity is required to initiate myokine production. Endurance and strength training proves to be an effective training combination. In order to achieve a sustainable cardiometabolic risk reduction, the objectives and timing of physical activity should therefore be divided into two phases, a preparatory phase and an actual weight loss phase.