PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY IN THE TREATMENT OF CHI LDHOOD OBESITY

The progressive rise of the prevalence of obesity has been associated with the rise ill sedentary behaviour of the population. Using indirec t calorimetry and the doubly labelled wafer method or the heart rare m onitoring method to assess energy expenditure devoted to physical acti vity a relationship between sedentary and adiposity has been found in children. Therefore, interventions aiming to increase the level of phy sical activity in children may contribute both to prevent and treat ob esity. Specific programs of physical exercise are effective in increas ing weight loss induced by a hypocaloric diet. However, non-programmed exercise, i.e. strategies performed to induce a more active lifestyle was suggested to have better results that those obtained with program med exercise sections. Pediatricians have a great responsibility in pr omoting and encouraging the practice of exercise and an active lifesty le in children and their families, contributing to prevent excess adip osity in children and supporting and motivating the family during the treatment.