Table 1.

Recommendations for physical activity in the management of obesity [13].

Evidence statements and recommendations on PA for weight loss and WL maintenance	Level of evidence	Evidence statements and recommendations on combined therapy (Diet + PA) for WL and WL maintenance	Level of evidence
(i) PA in overweight or obese adults results in modest WL independent of the effect of caloric restriction through diet	A	(i) The combination of a reduced calorie diet and increased PA produces greater WL than diet alone or PA alone	A
(ii) PA in overweight or obese adults modestly reduces abdominal fat	B	(ii) The combination of a reduced calorie diet and increased PA produces greater reductions in abdominal fat than either diet alone or PA alone, although it has not been shown to be independent of WL	B
(iii) PA in overweight or obese adults modestly increases cardio-respiratory fitness independent of WL	A	(iii) A combination of a reduced calorie diet and increased PA improves cardiorespiratory fitness as measured by VO2max  when compared to diet alone	A
Recommendation: PA is recommended as part of a comprehensive WL program because it:		Recommendation: The combination of a reduced calorie diet and increased PA is recommended, since it produces WL, decreases abdominal fat, and increases cardiorespiratory fitness	A
(i) modestly contributes to WL in overweight and obese adults	A
(ii) may decrease abdominal fat	B
(iii) increases cardiorespiratory fitness	A
(iv) may help maintenance of WL	C

PA, physical activity; WL, weight loss.