Final answer:
To address his obesity, Robert should decrease his daily caloric intake and adhere to a low-calorie, low-fat diet. Maintaining energy homeostasis by balancing calorie consumption with physical activity is key. Reducing caloric intake is especially important if physical activity is low or sedentary.
Step-by-step explanation:
Robert is a former basketball player who is 6'8" and weighs 350lbs. Considering his weight and an average diet, the best course of action for Robert would be to decrease his daily caloric intake to lose some of the excess body fat. Obesity, as defined by a body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 kg/m² or greater, significantly increases the risk of health issues such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension. In order to shed body fat, it's essential to ensure that he burns more calories than he consumes. This is a matter of thermochemistry, meaning if he ingests fewer calories than his body uses for energy, he will begin to lose weight.
It is advised to focus on both the quantity and quality of the food consumed, and preferable to choose a low-calorie, low-fat diet combined with high levels of physical activity. This strategy has been reported as successful by members of the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR), which includes adhering to a diet that maintains proper nutrient intake while reducing overall calorie consumption.
Since an 'average diet' provides enough calories for normal daily activity, without considering additional exercise, a reduction in calorie intake is generally necessary for weight loss when someone is not engaging in high levels of physical activity or has a sedentary lifestyle. The concept of energy homeostasis is fundamental here, balancing the energy consumed with what is used by the body to prevent the storage of excess calories as fat.