Obesity In Children: Physical Activity and Nutritional Approaches

Paule Barbeau

Obesity in youths has increased to epidemic proportions in the last two decades. This poses a serious health hazard. Obesity is often the precursor to other diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes and hypertension, that can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adulthood, and some of these complications emerge during the childhood and adolescent years. It is therefore imperative to intervene in childhood in order to retard or negate the appearance of obesity and CVD risk factors such as high levels of insulin, glucose, cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and blood pressure. Decreased energy expenditure and increased energy intake are two of the major lifestyle behaviors thought to play a role in the development of obesity and consequent CVD. Decreases in moderate and vigorous physical activity (PA) and increases in sedentary activities such as television viewing, video game playing, and computer use have been associated with decreased energy expenditure. Other potential contributing factors ...

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