Overweight and obesity are considered one of the major health challenges of the 21st century. By 2035, it is expected that one in two people worldwide will be overweight and one in four will be obese.

Although there is no consensus in the scientific literature on causes and risk factors for this global pandemic, the impact of poor nutrition and physical inactivity is undisputed. This is supported by the fact that most individuals fail to meet the dietary and physical activity recommendations. However, how much these two lifestyle factors contribute to the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity is often misjudged.

The aim of the lecture is to critically discuss the role of nutrition and physical activity in the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity. A distinction is made between the induction of weight loss, where dietary interventions are significantly more effective, and long-term weight management, where physical activity plays a more important role. The interactions between the two factors, such as how exercise impact eating behavior, will also be discussed.