Special Considerations

• Adults suffering from obesity may benefit from progressing to over 250 minutes per week, as this will enhance weight loss maintenance in the long term
• Physical activity should be performed 5 to 7 days per week
• Moderate to vigorous intensity activity should be performed at least 30 minutes per day
• The individual may accumulate this amount of activity by performing 10 minute bouts throughout the day 
• Adding resistance exercises may increase muscular strength and physical functioning. It will also bring additional health benefits such as improvements in CVD and DM risk factors
• Make a goal to reduce body weight by at least 5%-10% over a 3-6 month period
• Increase communication with health care professionals, dietitians, and fitness professionals
• Change eating and exercise behaviors in order to have long term changes
• Reduce energy intake by 500-1000 kcals per day (exercise and diet)
• Work on behavioral modifications in order to achieve desired changes in weight

American College of Sports Medicine. Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2014.