by Morgan Johnson

Created on: August 11, 2008

Exercise is a difficult and dangerous thing for obese persons. The human body is designed for a certain amount of work load. It can be trained to do more - much more, but that training has to be gradual.

The obese person has a greater challenge than a slender built person to begin with. Their bodies are under constant stress even in the most relaxed conditions. Their hearts are always close to the redline trying to supply blood to very distant body tissue.

Of course, gravity is also an enemy to the obese. Your body is supporting all of your weight when standing still. The load on your leg joints increases rapidly as you begin to move. Gravity is acceleration times mass, so the more you weigh the more your load.

Walking places 4Gs of load on your knees with every step. That means four times your body weight on your knee joint. So a 350 pound person places 1,400 pounds on their knees.

On the other hand, losing weight has an immediate and dramatic effect on your body's joints. Thus losing just 12 pounds will take 48 pounds of load off your knees!

The best place for an obese person to start is to go back to the beginning . . . all the way back! Before you were born you floated in a ball of fluid; that's where you restart.

No, that doesn't mean find your mom and ruin her day! Instead go to the local YMCA. Most of them now offer exercise courses for the elderly and obese.

This is helpful because many obese people avoid going out to a public pool. It's easier when everyone in your class is built more like you and is there for the same reason. You can benefit from mutual emotional support.

Being in the water has two immediate benefits as well. First the water takes most of the load off your joints - fat is buoyant. And you're less exposed when sixty percent of your body is submerged.

The fact that your body is supported by the water leaves your cardiopulmonary system free to supply your muscles only. Thus most of the fuel and oxygen burned in your body goes towards developing muscles while consuming stored fat.

This also permits the obese person to exercise longer that they could if they were trying to walk around in a gym.

Additionally, water provides smooth, even and constant resistance while exercising. This again reduces the load on any one part of the body and limits the chance of injury.

Swimming, aqua-aerobics or even just volleyball; all are very good ways for the obese person to begin the healthy active habits needed to recover the fit form they'll need for a long, healthy life.

Learn more about this author, Morgan Johnson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.