Windows of opportunity for physical activity in the prevention of obesity

Abstract

Tackling increasing rates of obesity is likely to be a defining feature of health care over the next several decades. Adult obesity is a persistent and treatment-resistant problem. Consequently, an emerging theme in the literature is to commence prevention efforts earlier in the developmental time course. This view is based primarily on epidemiological data demonstrating a link between traits manifesting early during development and increased obesity risk in adulthood. Physical activity is a perennial factor in discussions of obesity prevention. However, the optimal timing and type of physical activity interventions to commence remains unclear. Critical developmental windows of plasticity may afford time-limited opportunities to shape body composition across the life course; however, physical activity has not been explicitly considered in these discussions. Although animal models suggest that physical activity commenced earlier in development has differential effects on obesity onset compared to physical activity commenced in adulthood, human research is lacking. In this conceptual review, we consider physical activity during critical developmental periods as a way to mitigate obesity risk later in life.

Four weeks of exercise early in life reprograms adult skeletal muscle insulin resistance caused by a paternal high‐fat diet

“…It has been proposed that early-life exercise training is a positive stimulus for reprogramming offspring exposed to detrimental insults in utero, such as placental restriction (Laker et al 2011;Laker et al 2012;Gatford et al 2014;Street et al 2015). We found that exercise training early in life in rats (from 5 to 9 weeks of age only, treadmill running) normalized the 50% lower relative islet surface area and β-cell mass in adulthood in rats born small for gestational age (Laker et al 2011).…”

“…; Street et al . ). We found that exercise training early in life in rats (from 5 to 9 weeks of age only, treadmill running) normalized the 50% lower relative islet surface area and β‐cell mass in adulthood in rats born small for gestational age (Laker et al .…”

Health Empowers You: Impact of a School‐Based Physical Activity Program in Elementary School Students, Georgia, 2015‐2016

“…Children who participate in regular physical activity typically have higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, stronger muscles and bones, lower body fatness, less prevalence of chronic diseases, and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression . Additionally, children who are physically active are more likely to become active adults, and this may mitigate obesity risk later in life …”

Effects of cycle and treadmill desks on energy expenditure and cardiometabolic parameters in sedentary workers: review and meta-analysis

“…Insufficient physical activity (PA) levels and obesity are issues of considerable concern in modern society [1]. The prevalence of obesity in adults is up to 40% in the USA [2] and up to 47.6% in Europe [3].…”