Physical Activity in Diet-Induced Disease Causation and Prevention in Women and Men

• Obesity, with its comorbidities, has emerged as a major public health problem in the USA and around the world and excess visceral and intramuscular fat is strongly linked to increased risk of cardio-metabolic perturbations. • Exercise promotes lean tissue and enhances fat loss, however, the level of energy expenditure needed for significant weight loss is daunting for most people. • Physical activity improves insulin sensitivity and glucose oxidation and enhances lipid uptake, transport, utilization, and oxidation which help to lower the risk of metabolic disorders and disease with health benefits accruing at modest levels of exercise energy expenditure. • Just as exercise may modify the effects of dietary choices, post-exercise meal composition may modify the metabolic effects of exercise with more research on the interactions of diet and exercise warranted. • Despite the uncertainties, there is little doubt that regular physical activity offers a number of powerful health benefits that may ameliorate diet-induced chronic disease risk in men and women.