ABSTRACT
It has been argued in Part I that physical literacy can provide a wide range of opportunities in the field of physical activity that can have far-reaching benefits for the quality of life. It is very worrying that the current trend, worldwide, towards obesity is proving to be a serious barrier to many becoming physically literate. These individuals tend to avoid physical activity. Their overall health can suffer, as can their self-confidence and self-esteem. Developing physical literacy can be one way of helping people tackle the problem of obesity. However, as will be seen from the information in this chapter, the situation is far from straightforward. Research has yet to identify clear-cut and proven strategies for the prevention and cure of obesity. While the promotion of physical activity will not in itself provide the remedy, there seems to be growing evidence that interventions which include physical activity programmes can be successful.
