How to Use Exercise to Treat Obesity

By eHow Health Editor

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One of the most common ways to treat obesity is through physical activity and exercise. An effective exercise program can always reduce the level of obesity in a person, if not eliminate it altogether. There are a variety of exercise regimes to follow. Choosing the one that best suits you is the key for success.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Exercise videos
Bicycle
Gym membership
Hiking boots

Use Exercise to Treat Obesity

Step1

Start moving! Aerobic exercise is the most popular choice to decrease weight. There are many types of aerobic exercises to choose from. Some examples are jogging, elliptical machines and aerobic classes at the gym. Aerobic activities get the heart pumping, the circulatory system flowing and they burn calories.

Step2

Try anaerobic exercise. This is also known as strength training. Many women fear that strength training will build bulk, but if done correctly, it can tone and define. In addition to toned and defined muscled, strength training also allows the muscles to burn calories throughout the day. This is due to the fact that the more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn because muscles are metabolically active.

Step3

Get outside! Enjoying the outdoors is a wonderful way to use exercise to treat obesity. As the weather permits, you can enjoy the outdoors on a hike or a bike ride. The local pool is a great place to swim some laps on a sunny day.

Step4

Purchase some exercise videos and use them three times a week. These activities can include a variety of in-home exercise videos as well as the use of stationary machinery such as bikes, treadmills and stair climbers.

Step5

Take the stairs instead of taking the elevator.

Step6

Park far away from the entrance of the store or school. Sure, you may be able to get the first parking space, but parking far away will give you the extra activity you may need to treat your obesity.

Tips & Warnings

Even the most moderate amount of activity will help.
You can find plenty of used exercise equipment on eBay, at flea markets or garage sales (see Resources below).
Drink plenty of water during any exercise regime.
Find a workout partner that can keep you on track and motivate you.
Don't burn more calories than you eat. The human body requires about 1,200 calories to function.
Don't use strength training as an exercise without proper technique or supervision because serious injury can result.