Obesity & Performance
Physical Education: AQA GCSE, topic 8.2.2
Body Mass Index (BMI)
BMI is a good indicator (sign) of whether someone is the correct weight for their height.
Underweight
- Scores of less than 20.
Correct weight
- Scores between 20 and 25.
Overweight
- Scores between 25 and 30.
Obese
- Scores greater than 30.
Effects of Obesity on Sport
Obesity is a term used to describe somebody with a large content of fat in their body. Obesity is caused by an imbalance in the number of calories consumed and the number of calories burnt off through exercise. The effects of obesity on sporting performance are:
Limits cardiovascular endurance
- This makes it difficult to perform activities over a long period of time.
Limits flexibility
- The full range of motion at the joints is limited when performing skills.
Limits agility
- The person’s ability to change direction quickly is reduced because they have a larger weight to move.
Limits speed and power
- The person’s ability to move/react quickly enough is reduced, as well as the amount of force produced.
Test yourself on Obesity & Performance
How would you describe someone with a BMI score of between 20 and 25?