Dysfunction and Obesity

What follows is a paired-down version of an article penned by Thom Lamb for Elite FTS – http://articles.elitefts.com/articles/training-articles/dysfunction-and-obesity/
The following passage is the crux of what this article is about — To heal the body, we teach it how to squat, lunge, push, pull, twist, and bend. Any movement a human being can do is a combination of these. They’re like the primary colors of human function.
Dysfunction and Obesity

When you attempt to improve your health, the first step should be to restore proper movement patterns. What this means is that you must start moving like a human being again. Your body is an amazing machine. It will comply with any persistent demand you place on it. If the demand is to drive to work, sit at a desk, drive home, and sit in front of a television, it will start to shut down many movements in favor of being less metabolic and more inert. It does this to minimize the energy demands posed on it.
The body is exceptional at becoming efficient. For it to be efficient at not doing much of anything, it tightens muscles so they won’t get used. It weakens large, explosive muscles so that you don’t use them, favoring instead smaller, less powerful muscles that are more aptly suited to holding a posture for a long time. So when you begin to exercise, you’re literally incapable of healthy pain-free movement.
The dormant muscles are always the ones that burn a lot of calories. That’s why the body turned them off when it realized you didn’t need them. It’s more efficient. When you start actually feeling stronger and more energetic (a nice side effect of exercise is that endorphins initially released to mask pain are directly related to mood), you begin to enjoy exercise.
But this all needs to start with healing the body. To heal the body, we teach it how to squat, lunge, push, pull, twist, and bend. Any movement a human being can do is a combination of these. They’re like the primary colors of human function.
It’s important to stress that while this sounds very holistic, it’s also challenging. A squat is harder than a leg curl, extension, or press, and it works more muscles than all three combined. Push-ups performed correctly can have you feeling it in your toes.
The body is the original complex system. Everything influences everything else. Dietary changes have been shown to improve mood and motivation, and exercise (I stress correct exercise) will improve self-efficacy and lead to healthier relationships. Of course, it works the other way as well. Dysfunctional beliefs can inhibit physical progress and should be addressed using daily journaling and then reviewed with the trainer.