Here is a practical set of recommendations and advice for physicians to help them prescribe exercise for their overweight and obese patients who want to lose weight. This short piece provides all health professionals with instructions for prescribing exercise that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.  Wellness practitioners and program managers would do well to parallel this sound advice in their wellness programs to all employees who desire to lose some weight and feel better.

The advice is organized around the following topics:

1. EXERCISE IMPROVES WEIGHT LOSS
2. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF EXERCISE
3. SETTING ‘SMART’ GOALS
4. EXERCISE RECOMMENDATIONS
5. BARIATRIC SURGERY AND LIFESTYLE MANAGEMENT FOR OBESITY

6. TREATMENT CONSIDERATIONS IN MORBID OBESITY
7. A LONG-TERM ENDEAVOR