OBESITY and OVERWEIGHT

- Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that
presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight,
and over 30 is obese.

The FITT Table

MEDICAL
FREQUENCY INTENSITY TIME TYPE PROGRESSION
CONDITION

Aerobic
30-60 Overweight (not obese), if
physical activity
OBESITY Moderate to minutes per BMI is 25.0 to 29.9. Class 1
that involves
and vigorous- day to at (low-risk) obesity, if BMI is
≥ 5 days per large muscle
OVERWEIG- intensity least 150 30.0 to 34.9. Class 2
week groups e.g brisk
HT physical minutes per (moderate-risk) obesity, if
walking, cycling,
activity. week. BMI is 35.0 to 39.9. Class 3
jogging,
(high-risk) obesity, if BMI is
swimming and
equal to or greater than 40.0.
sports.

1. The amount of physical activity that may be required to sustain weight and prevent
weight regain exceeds the public health recommendation for physical activity of 150
min per week. For these reasons, the following considerations should be noted.

2. Overweight and obese adults may benefit from progression to approximately 250-300
RED min per week or 50-60 min on 5 days per week as this magnitude of physical activity
FLAGS OR appears to enhance long term weight loss and maintenance.
SPECIAL
CONSIDER 3. The duration of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity should initially
ATI-ONS progress to at least 30 min per day and when appropriate, progress to 50-60 min per
day or more to enhance long term weight control.

4. The addition of resistance exercise to energy restriction does not appear to prevent
the loss of fat-free mass or the observed reduction in resting energy expenditure.
Research evidence does not support resistance training (RT) as effective for weight
loss with or without diet restriction.