Fysioterapeuten (Oct 2001)
Aspekter ved overvekt hos barn og unge
Abstract
In Norway there is a rising concern for the health status of the population as the average weight in the adult population Norway has increased over the last few decades. A similar trend is found among children and adolescents in other countries, with an increasing number of overweight and obesity. This paper is a review of the probable causes of obesity in childhood and adolescents. The issue of how physical activity may affect the development of obesity is discussed, together with the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases as adults. In contrast to what has been observed in other countries an increase in average weight among children and adolescents in Norway over the last decades has not been recorded. There are several confounding factors that make it more difficult to determine the impact of physical activity on weight-control in children than in adults. Nevertheless, most studies conclude that physical activity level is an important determinant of body weight control and may to some extent reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Physical activity in children and adolescents should be emphasised in the prevention of obesity and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood.
