Physical Inactivity and Obesity - A Global Burden

Sedentary lifestyle is often assumed to be a contributing factor in obesity. Obesity is a worldwide growing epidemic issue. It is one of the major contributors to the global burden of chronic disease and disability. Lack of physical activity is known to be the main cause of obesity and also a leading cause of mortality. Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for developing coronary artery disease and contributes to other risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, a low level of HDL cholesterol, and diabetes. Looking at the technology-based lifestyle that is becoming more popular in this era, the percentage of obesity is increasing yearly. Moreover, a high prevalence of child and adolescent obesity is reported globally, especially in economically developed countries and in urbanized populations. if no effective strategies or programs are developed to combat and control risk factors such as obesity, and metabolic syndrome will help to reduce the socioeconomic burden in the future. This chapter contributes to understanding the association between physical activity and obesity. This variability is greater in developing countries experiencing nutrition transition and the result of urbanization, modernization, and affluence by dietary habits and lifestyles.