Resumo

WONG- ON, Manuel  e  MURILLO-CUZZA, Gerardo. Fundamentos fisiopatológicos de la obesidad y su relación con el ejercicio. Acta méd. costarric [online]. 2004, vol.46, suppl.1, pp.15-24. ISSN 0001-6002.

Obesity constitutes one of the major problems in our days, very close to the economic and technologic growth is the sedentarism (physical inactivity). Even if the increase in caloric intake is a determinant factor in obesity’s pathogenesis, the importance of genetic factors is undeniable. The role of Leptin in asociation with Neropeptide Y and insulin as regulators of the satiety center seems to have great relevance in obesity`s pathogenesis as well as the role of adiponectin in obesity and insulin resistance. Physical exercise in sinergistic action with caloric restriction, will lead to a decrease in fat weight and increase muscular mass, improves insulin resitance, leads to changes in the lipid profile even without weight loss; and decrease blood pressure, not forgetting of course, improvement psychosocial. Aerobic exercise, its intensiy and the volume of exercise are the main determinants in its prescription and the ones that produce better outcomes in our organisms, however, to accomplish this goals in an exercise program we have to achieve consistency, adherence and to enjoy exercising in the first place and then we will guarantee the succes of an exercise program prescription.

Palavras-chave : Indice de Masa Corporal; ejercicio aeróbico; restricción calórica; porcentaje de grasa; termogénesis; obesidad.