Exercising when overweight: moderation is key
22 Jul 2025 by Ted Escobedo 2 min read
The struggle with obesity is a national health problem in the United States with more people than ever falling victim to it. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 35 percent of U.S. adults are obese, and more than 34 percent are overweight. Aside from dieting, the only other proven way of getting in shape is through adding regular exercise Overweight people have a higher risk of many health complications, including heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension, and that’s why dropping that excess weight by eating less and moving more is so important. But for people carrying excess weight, there are certain precautions they should take before embarking on an exercise regime — particularly when the weather is hot.”
Before you begin any exercise regime, visit your health care provider to assess if you are healthy enough to start a regular fitness routine and which exercises are best for you. Obese individuals weigh more, and therefore should avoid moves that put stress on their ankles, hips, knees, and lower back if they wish to avoid injuries.
The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that overweight individuals gradually build to a workout of up to 250 minutes of weekly moderate-intensity exercise to increase weight loss. This can take any form, for instance, five 50-minute workouts per week or seven 37-minute workouts a week.
Weight-friendly workouts include walking, swimming and biking. Visit https://good2knowelpaso.org/tag/Fitness for easy and inspirational exercise ideas.
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