Recent studies have considered obesity as a modern epidemic, with many adverse effects on a person's health, such that researchers continue to focus on issues relating to obesity particularly the role of exercise in maintaining a healthy body.

One study focuses on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and poor health. Researchers Green and Maiorana points out that exercise and fitness are better than obesity for predicting cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, and that improved fitness has benefits that are independent of weight reduction.

Green and Maiorana acknowledge that there is a place for bariatric surgery, but believe that exercise and fitness should still be prescribed because in itself it is good for the individual, regardless of weight loss. The authors argue that, if emerging indications of epigenetic influences on lifelong weight control are borne out, the need to acquire good exercise habits at a young age is vital.

Another study by Skouteris and colleagues noted that it does indeed seem to be good to start young. Looking at existing guidelines for physical activity in preschoolers, they said that the guidelines are inconsistent, and their basis uncertain. They added that there is a lack of information about what is a normal level of activity, and a lack of knowledge about what activity should be measured and how to measure it.

According to Morley and colleagues, nearly one in four Australian adolescents are overweight or obese. Those with the highest risk are characterized as male, less wealthy, inactive, sleep-deprived and frequently hooked to a computer or TV. The most important factor was found to be low socioeconomic status, but the way this is associated with obesity is still to be ascertained.
One thing Rissel and colleagues have confirmed is a significant association between soft drink consumption and obesity in school students.

McIntyre and colleagues argue that overweight and obesity are now endemic in pregnant women. They found that, despite some missing data, the overall prevalence of overweight and obesity had increased little over a decade, but the obese had become more obese. In a large cohort, about one in 20 pregnant women had a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or higher. As with adolescents, obesity was associated with lower socioeconomic status.

The authors confirm that being overweight or obese confers significant maternal and neonatal risk, requiring more obstetric resources. From an obstetric point of view, it is challenging to care for people who are this large, and more challenging to safely deliver their babies. Women need to know that obesity, like tobacco and alcohol, is a risk factor in pregnancy.

Despite all the unknowns in our understanding of overweight and obesity, the simple principle of energy in and energy out should underpin much of our thinking. Magarey provides some practical suggestions for redressing the imbalance between food consumption and exercise that is so prevalent in our society. If we want our children to enjoy a long and healthy life, we need to work on this equation.