Physical Activity as Treatment for Obesity

Abstract

This chapter discusses physical activity as treatment for obesity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents has more than tripled in the last three decades. The sharp rise in overweight and obesity rates among youth has prompted major public health concerns in recent years. Body mass index (BMI) between the 85th and 95th percentile for age and sex is considered at-risk for overweight, and BMI above the 95th percentile is considered overweight or obese. Based on this sex-specific BMI for age criteria (see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts for all BMI ranges), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that child and adolescent obesity had reached a national high with 17.0 % of youth considered overweight or obese. Moreover, if current trends continue, the prevalence of overweight in children and adolescents has been estimated to increase 1.6-fold to approximately 30 % by the year 2030. Despite declines in youth PA and the challenges faced in engaging youth in PA, researchers have found some indication of continuity in PA participation Specifically, participation in PA during the earlier years of development, as well as having PA skills and being physically fit, is predictive of PA participation in later adolescence and adulthood. Stability of sedentary behaviors over time has also been documented. For example, boys who spent the greatest amount of time watching television, and boys and girls who spent the most time playing video games during childhood were more likely to show high rates of sedentary behaviors during adolescence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)