Policies for promotion of physical activity and prevention of obesity in adolescence

Abstract

Obesity rates among children and adolescents in developed countries have increased dramatically since the 1970s. During that same period, numerous secular changes have combined to reduce the demand for physical activity in day-to-day life, and many barriers to physical activity are now evident. As a consequence, most children and adolescents do not meet the accepted public health guidelines for physical activity. Accordingly, public health interventions are needed to increase physical activity in adolescence. Such interventions, if successfully implemented, can be expected to improve fitness and health as well as reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity in young people. Promotion of physical activity in populations of children and adolescents will require comprehensive strategic planning and adoption of new policies in multiple societal sectors. This paper highlights nine initiatives that can address the problem of physical activity in children. The initiatives are to: establish comprehensive school physical activity programming; demand high quality physical education; require physical activity in early child care and education; require physical activity in afterschool programs; create equity in community resources; activate youth sports programs; re-normalize active transport to school; institutionalize clinic-based physical activity assessment and counseling; and build activity-friendly homes. A case will be made for comprehensive national and international strategic planning aimed at effective and large-scale implementation of these initiatives and tactics.

The Psychological Effects of Exergames for Children and Adolescents with Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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Leisure‐time physical activity and participation in organized sports: Changes from 1985 to 2014 in Finland and Norway

“…Increased car ownership and the use of electronic media and technology have raised concerns about increases in sedentary behavior leading to a decrease in health-promoting physical activity among children and adolescents. 1 Physical activity (PA) is associated with numerous health benefits in school-aged children and adolescents and appears to follow a dose-response relationship. 2 The global recommendation for health-enhancing physical activity for children and adolescents is 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) a day.…”

Hypogonadism in Exercising Males: Dysfunction or Adaptive-Regulatory Adjustment?

“…To this end, the concept of using physical activity and exercise training as a preventative healthcare adjunctive therapy has become a popular contemporary theme. Furthermore, this is sound medical policy as preventative steps in promoting improved health are typically far most cost-effective and successful than interventional alternatives (5).…”

“…(4) Dysfunction or adaption-regulatory adjustment? (5) What are actions to deal with low testosterone in athletes-exercisers? and (6) Summary, conclusions and perspective.…”