Editor Dr. Alexios Batrakoulis has brought together 48 of the field’s top researchers and practitioners to build this one-of-a-kind resource. From assessment to application, Obesity and Weight Management: The Exercise Professional’s Guide to Fitness Programming equips practitioners with the knowledge to safely and effectively address client needs and challenges.
The text provides fitness professionals with the tools they need to help more clients with overweight and obesity become successful in getting stronger, fitter, and healthier. Tools such as exercise preparticipation interviews, health history screenings, and a cardiovascular disease risk factor analysis will give readers skills they can immediately implement with clients in the real world.
Readers will encounter the latest information regarding the epidemiology, definition, and classification of overweight and obesity, preparing them to meet larger-bodied clients where they are. The text also explains the role of an exercise professional as a valuable member of a multidisciplinary client health care team. To help practitioners create engaging plans for clients, the book comes with 21 sample workouts and more:
15 warm-up movements
10 movement prep activities
13 warm-up games
87 resistance training exercises
27 balance and coordination exercises
21 cool-down movements and stretches
At the end of the first 12 chapters, readers will find a summary, key points, several multiple-choice recap questions, and short case studies to help them engage deeply with the content. Twelve longer case studies included in chapter 14 provide readers with the opportunity to think practically and evaluate real-life scenarios. Readers will have access to online content, including a section on translating overweight and obesity research into practice, a section on business and marketing strategies, and all the references from the text.
An authoritative resource for exercise professionals, Obesity and Weight Management bridges the gap between research and practice in creating solutions for safe, effective, and personalized fitness journeys.
Foreword by:
Walter R. Thompson
Edited by:
Alexios Batrakoulis
Imprint: Human Kinetics
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 254mm,
Width: 178mm,
ISBN: 9781718230125
ISBN 10: 1718230125
Pages: 376
Publication Date: 09 June 2025
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
Foreword Dr. Walter R. Thompson Part I. The Science Chapter 1. Understanding Overweight and Obesity Renee Rogers, PhD, and Sara Kovacs, PhD Chapter 2. The Role of an Exercise Professional Christie L. Ward-Ritacco, PhD, and Alison C. Berg, PhD Chapter 3. The Role of Exercise in Weight Management and Obesity John M. Jakicic, PhD, and Landon Deru, PhD Chapter 4. Coaching Lifestyle Modification and Behavior Change Rachelle Acitelli Reed, PhD, and Susie Reiner, PhD Part II. The Assessment Chapter 5. Exercise Preparticipation Interview and Health Screening Deborah Riebe, PhD, and Christie L. Ward-Ritacco, PhD Chapter 6. Health-Related Physical Fitness Assessments Meir Magal, PhD, and Kathleen S. Thomas, PhD Part III. The Application Chapter 7. Warm-Up Concepts Amy Bantham, PhD, Rachele Pojednic, PhD, and Alexios Batrakoulis, PhD Chapter 8. Muscular Fitness Alexios Batrakoulis, PhD, Michael Stack, BS, and Kia Williams, MS Chapter 9. Neuromotor Fitness Alexios Batrakoulis, PhD, Leslie A. Stenger, EdD, and Elizabeth Kovar, MA Chapter 10. Cardiorespiratory Fitness Tony Nuñez, PhD, Elizabeth Kovar, MA, and Alexios Batrakoulis, PhD Chapter 11. Flexibility Training and Cool-Down Techniques Elizabeth Kovar, MA, and Alexios Batrakoulis, PhD Part IV. The Programming Chapter 12. Program Design Alexios Batrakoulis, PhD, and Anoop Balachandran, PhD Chapter 13. Sample Workouts Alexios Batrakoulis, PhD, Rodiel Kirby Baloy, DPT, John Bauer, Vula Bolou, Lee Boyce, Ryan Carver, BS, Christine M. Conti, MEd, Grace DeSimone, BA, Brett Klika, BS, Lauren Korzan, MA, Jonathan Mike, PhD, Michael Piercy, MS, Keli Roberts, Melody Schoenfeld, MS, Lauren Shroyer, MS, Summer Sides Chapter 14. Case Study Scenarios Stephanie Cooper, PhD, Daniel Green, BA, Farel B. Hruska, Michael R. Mantell, PhD, Tracy L. Markley, Cherie O’Neill (Koch), EdD, Brian Richey, BS, Jonathan Ross, Louise Valentine, MPH, Maurice Williams, MS, Mary Yoke, PhD Appendix A. Chapter Quiz and Case Study Answers Appendix B. Translating Overweight and Obesity Research Into Practice Anoop Balachandran, PhD Appendix C. Business and Marketing Strategies Mark A. Nutting
Alexios Batrakoulis, PhD, CSCS,*D, ACSM-EP, FACSM, has been involved in the health and fitness industry since 1995. He currently works as a personal trainer, exercise physiologist, fitness educator, speaker, author, subject matter expert, and adjunct professor and is based in Greece. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education and sport science, a master’s degree in exercise and health, a doctorate in clinical exercise physiology, and numerous certifications through the American Council on Exercise (ACE), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). His primary research interest is the study of hybrid-type, multicomponent interval training in obesity. He has authored over 100 international peer-reviewed publications on exercise, including research articles, textbook chapters, and translated books. He has won multiple awards for his fitness expertise: He received global recognition as a 2017 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year finalist, the 2018 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year, the 2019 IDEA China Fitness Innovator, the 2020 NSCA Personal Trainer of the Year, a 2020 MedFit Professional of the Year finalist, the 2021 PFP Trainer of the Year, a 2021 ACSM Certified Professional of the Year finalist, and the 2022 ACSM Certified Professional of the Year. He has been a member of EuropeActive’s Professional Standards Committee, leading the technical experts group that developed educational standards for the occupational role of Weight Management Exercise Specialist. He has served on several committees for ACSM and NSCA, is an ACSM fellow, and is a member of the NSCA board of directors. Lastly, he is the founder of the International Obesity Exercise Training Institute (IOETI), teaching internationally approved continuing education courses in 45 countries across five continents and empowering over 3,000 fitness professionals since 2017.
