Exercise science is a broad term that describes the study of various aspects of physical

activity and exercise. Because it has the ability to correspond with a variety of other disciplines,
exercise science
Increasing the amount of physical activity and exercise of overweight and obese patients
is a major concern in exercise science. Each patient is different, and the method in which the
information concerning their health is presented varies. Obesity and Exercise presents
information in an informal and conversational manner while Predictors of increase in physical
activity during a 6-month follow-up period among overweight and physically inactive healthy
young adults presents in a formal and detached manner. The differences in presentation can be
attributed to their individual rhetorical elements.
Obesity and Exercise discusses the various benefits of physical activity and how to
integrate it into ones lifestyle. The articles exigence is established as the increasing prevalence
of obesity correlating with a lack of exercise in the United States. Schmidt states that obesity
affects close to one third of all adults and occurs when the amount of calories consumed
exceeds the amount of calories expended over a long period of time (para. 1). The author
immediately allows the readers to consider the extent of the preexisting conditions that surround
obesity, specifically in the adult population. Given this information, readers can also view
obesity as a pressing issue that requires attention and action.
Next, the text engages the readers in the five benefits of regular physical activity by
creating a conversational space. Concerned about heart disease? and Feeling a little edgy?
are questions in the text where the author is directly speaking to the readers (Schmidt, 2012,
Benefits of Regular Exercise section, para. 2). Because the author directs the questions to the
readers, it can be concluded that the readers are people in the public, specifically those that are

overweight and/or obese, who are seeking to alter their physical state by incorporating exercise
into their lifestyles. With such a specific audience, the author had to consider the audiences
preconceived beliefs about exercise and sedentary habits. The text accommodates these
constraints with engaging questions, simple sentence structures, fairly common diction, section
headings, and a short length. Engaging questions, sentence structures, and common diction make
the text relatable for readers by simplifying information that could be more in-depth and
complex. Section headings and short length make the information in the text accessible to the
audience. Exercise promotes better sleep is one of multiple headings in Obesity and Exercise
that places information in an accessible view so that members of the audience are able to target
specific issues of concern that exercise can benefit (Schmidt, 2012, Exercise promotes better
sleep section). At this point, readers have reviewed the benefits of regular exercise, and can
transition into how to incorporate it into their lives.
The final sections of Obesity and Exercise discuss beginning exercise programs and
helpful tips that can assist in the process. This stage in the text can be the most difficult because
it urges the readers to actually engage in physical activity to help combat obesity and to receive
the health benefits. Ease into your workout, sessions can be broken up into three 10-minute
sessions, and try to resist focusing on weight loss are phrases that generate an expectation that
the application of exercise is not only gradual but should also minimize discomfort, pain, and
fear. Using pathos to elicit comfort, the author successfully encourages readers to partake in
regular exercise.
Predictors of increase in physical activity during a 6-month follow-up period among
overweight and physically inactive healthy young adults is an academic text from the Journal
of Exercise Science & Fitness. While it differs from Obesity and Exercise in most rhetorical

aspects, it is founded on a similar exigence-the prevalence of overweight young adults due to a

lack of physical activity. However, this research article studied the psychological and physical
factors that affected whether or not a participants overall physical activity increased, which
creates a contrast between the audience of this piece and Obesity and Exercise. Because this
text is research and is primarily concerned with the participants psychological and physical
attributes, the text is arranged in sections similar to those of a science project. The abstract
provides a general idea of the research, but further into the texts sections, like Methods and
Results, information is more difficult to decipher and requires the knowledge of a professional.
Without the knowledge of terms and concepts, such as metabolic equivalent of task (METs)
and sense of coherence, someone outside of exercise science or affiliated disciplines may not
understand how this relates to the overall message. Therefore, the audience can be established as
professionals seeking to alter the lifestyles of overweight young adults through a concrete
understanding of psychological and physical factors that increase the potential of that alteration.

Fhr, T., Kainulainen, H., Karhunen, L., Kolemainen, M., Kujala, U.M., Lappalainen, R., &
Mutikainen, S. (2015, August 14). Predictors of increase in physical activity during a 6month follow-up period among overweight and physically inactive healthy young adults.
Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness. Retrieved from
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1728869X15000222#
Schmidt, S. (2012, January 19). Obesity and Exercise. ACSM Fit Society. Retrieved from
http://acsm.org/public-information/articles/2012/01/19/obesity-and-exercise