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Musculoskeletal Function and Obesity: Implications for Physical Activity

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Abstract

However quantified, obesity is a global health problem of significant magnitude. The condition is no longer limited to the developed world, with an increasing proportion of low-to-middle income countries burdened by obesity and its comorbidities. Specifically, obesity is a risk factor for a raft of psychosocial, physiological, cardiovascular, and metabolic problems. The carriage of excess body weight, including an unhealthy proportion of body fat, also has important implications for musculoskeletal health. To date, this important relationship has not received as much attention by the research community. Coincidentally, there has been a heightened interest in the role of physical activity and exercise across the lifespan in the prevention, treatment and management of obesity. This paper considers some of the more common musculoskeletal problems in children, adolescents and adults with implications for the overweight and obese and their meaningful engagement in physical activity.

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Conflict of Interest

Sarah P. Shultz, Nuala M. Byrne, and Andrew P. Hills declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Sport and Exercise, Massey University, 63 Wallace Street, Mt Cook, Wellington, 6140, New Zealand

    Sarah P. Shultz

  2. Institute of Sport and Exercise, Bond University, Robina, Australia

    Nuala M. Byrne

  3. Centre for Nutrition and Exercise, Mater Research Institute – The University of Queensland and Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia

    Andrew P. Hills

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  1. Sarah P. Shultz
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  2. Nuala M. Byrne
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  3. Andrew P. Hills
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Correspondence to Sarah P. Shultz.

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Shultz, S.P., Byrne, N.M. & Hills, A.P. Musculoskeletal Function and Obesity: Implications for Physical Activity. Curr Obes Rep 3, 355–360 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-014-0107-x

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