How much physical activity is enough to prevent unhealthy weight gain? Outcome of the IASO 1st Stock Conference and consensus statement

Abstract

A consensus meeting was held in Bangkok, 21-23 May 2002, where experts and young scientists in the field of physical activity, energy expenditure and body-weight regulation discussed the different aspects of physical activity in relation to the emerging problem of obesity worldwide. The following consensus statement was accepted unanimously. 'The current physical activity guideline for adults of 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity daily, preferably all days of the week, is of importance for limiting health risks for a number of chronic diseases including coronary heart disease and diabetes. However for preventing weight gain or regain this guideline is likely to be insufficient for many individuals in the current environment. There is compelling evidence that prevention of weight regain in formerly obese individuals requires 60-90 minutes of moderate intensity activity or lesser amounts of vigorous intensity activity. Although definitive data are lacking, it seems likely that moderate intensity activity of approximately 45 to 60 minutes per day, or 1.7 PAL (Physical Activity Level) is required to prevent the transition to overweight or obesity. For children, even more activity time is recommended. A good approach for many individuals to obtain the recommended level of physical activity is to reduce sedentary behaviour by incorporating more incidental and leisure-time activity into the daily routine. Political action is imperative to effect physical and social environmental changes to enable and encourage physical activity. Settings in which these environmental changes can be implemented include the urban and transportation infrastructure, schools, and workplaces.'

Efficacy of exercise for treating overweight in children and adolescents: a systematic review

“…We found larger summary effects after pooling studies which prescribed a higher vs lower dose of exercise (155-180 vs 120-150 min/weeks), and in those pooled after removing studies which did not report exercise compliance or change in physical activity levels. However, current recommended doses (volumes) of exercise/physical activity for treating overweight in children and adolescents published by several expert committees (B30-60 min/days at moderate intensity, most days (210-360 min/weeks)) 73,74 as well as USDA's Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, 75 are substantially higher than doses which have been tested in RCTs in young overweight cohorts, to date. In fact, we found no randomized trial in the English published literature to have prescribed a dose of more than 200 min/weeks of aerobic exercise to overweight children.…”

The inverse relationship between number of steps per day and obesity in a population-based sample – the AusDiab study

“…In 2002, a consensus meeting concluded that 45-60 min a day of moderate PA per day was required to prevent the transition to overweight or obesity, 38 substantially more than the 1995 recommendation that every adult should accumulate 30 min or more of moderate-intensity PA on most, preferably all, days of the week. 30 Future prospective studies incorporating pedometer or accelerometer measures of activity should assist the evidence base for future recommendations.…”

Physical activity, television viewing and body mass index: a cross-sectional analysis from childhood to adulthood in the 1958 British cohort

“…18 Our activity measures in adulthood provide a measure of frequency, not duration or intensity, but all three aspects of activity have been found to be relevant to body fatness or weight maintenance. 19,20 Indeed, current physical activity recommendations are based on all three aspects, stating that 30 min of moderate activity should be accumulated on at least 5, but preferably all days of the week. A major strength of the 1958 cohort is that, unlike many studies, it has measures at several ages and over a long time period.…”