Definition and Symptoms
Unfortunately, this is probably the most prevalent medical problem in the Western World. The cause is an increase of the natural energy reserves (the fatty tissues) to the point where the percentage of body fat is higher than what’s considered healthy. Obesity is typically evaluated in absolute terms by measuring BMI (body mass index). There are many different degrees of obesity, usually resulting from several other contributing factors: lack of exercise, overeating, genetics etc. Obesity occurs when you consume more calories than you use. This balance is different for each person. Obesity puts a huge strain on the heart, kidneys, liver and all large weight-bearing joints such as hips, knees and ankles; a large number of medical conditions have been associated with this condition. Health problems can be the result of increased fat mass (osteoarthritis, breathing problems) or of the increased number of fat cells (diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases). In most cases the body's response to insulin will change, and many patients show an increased tendency to thrombosis.

Concerns for exercise
The basic principle of losing weight is simple: expend more calories than you consume. In time, this will force your body to draw on the fat reserves, causing you to lose weight. However, our body is designed for survival – it will adjust itself during periods of scarcity, lowering the metabolism. Starving yourself will increase the rate at which you build up emergency stores of energy-rich fat as soon as you increase the amount of calories you consume again after having been on a (crash) diet, causing the infamous yoyo effect. An effective weight loss plan is a change in lifestyle. In order to increase caloric expenditure it is important to stay active, and exercise reduces the risk of muscle atrophy, decrease in bone density, and fractures. Most experts recommend that someone attempting to lose a significant amount of weight should consult with a personal physician or health care professional before beginning a weight-loss program, advising them to:

• Aim for a healthy weight and lose weight gradually, no more than 1 kilogram per week (it’s not healthy to lose weight quickly, then gaining it again) - depriving yourself of essential nutrients can backfire, like slowing down the rate at which your body uses energy, or burns calories.
• Exercise - the safest and most effective way to lose weight is to reduce the amount of calories you consume while increasing physical activity.
• Make healthy choices in food (keep to a healthy diet) without excluding any particular foodstuffs. Aim for balance and choose meals and snacks that include all food groups. Eat small portions, but frequently throughout the day.

Power Plate and Obesity
Exercising on Power Plate equipment can be an excellent way to support your efforts in losing weight. The vibrating platform elicits involuntary muscle activity at a rate of 30-50 muscle contractions per second. It is well known that the higher the intensity of training, the longer the body will continue burning calories after the end of the workout. This is why Power Plate is very effective in boosting the metabolism, increasing muscle mass and burning fat. Power Plate can also be very helpful in managing the side effects and complications related to other medication conditions associated with obesity (improved circulation in patients with diabetes, improved mobility and reduced pain sensations in clients with osteoarthritis, and improved lymphatic and circulatory functions in subjects with circulatory problems).

What to avoid
Never make promises about weight loss. Due to the increase in muscle mass, quite often people will actually GAIN weight when training on the Power Plate, and this may seriously affect their motivation – however, their silhouette will change significantly. After all, a kilogram of muscle is a lot more compact and tight than a kilogram of fatty tissue (muscle tissue weights about three times as much as fat tissue). In the initial phase of training, you shouldn’t demand your client to exercise every day, but 2-3 times a week. Obese people don’t usually enjoy exercising and an aggressive jump start may just scare them away and leave feelings of failure. If, while using the Power Plate machine, you feel dizzy, faint, short of breath, or any pain, stop using the Power Plate machine immediately, and consult a physician.