Addressing childhood obesity through increased physical activity

ABSTRACT Obesity is affecting an increasing proportion of children globally. Despite an appreciation that physical activity is essential for the normal growth and development of children and

prevents obesity and obesity-related health problems, too few children are physically active. A concurrent problem is that today's young people spend more time than previous

generations did in sedentary pursuits, including watching television and engaging in screen-based games. Active behavior has been displaced by these inactive recreational choices, which has

contributed to reductions in activity-related energy expenditure. Implementation of multifactorial solutions considered to offer the best chance of combating these trends is urgently

required to redress the energy imbalance that characterizes obesity. The counterproductive 'shame and blame' mentality that apportions responsibility for the childhood obesity

problem to sufferers, their parents, teachers or health-care providers needs to be changed. Instead, these groups should offer constant support and encouragement to promote appropriate

physical activity in children. Failure to provide activity opportunities will increase the likelihood that the children of today will live less healthy (and possibly shorter) lives than

their parents. KEY POINTS * Physical activity is essential for normal growth and development * All physical activity is important for children, irrespective of its intensity * Today's

young people spend increasing amounts of time participating in sedentary behaviors * A variety of opportunities for physical activity should be sought * To change the sedentary outlook and

minimal activity levels of young people will require the engagement (and a change in habits) of their parents and medical practitioners * Parents, teachers and health-care providers must

offer constant support and encouragement to promote appropriate play activities Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your

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* Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS VIGOROUS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS IMPORTANT IN MAINTAINING A

FAVOURABLE HEALTH TRAJECTORY IN ACTIVE CHILDREN: THE CHAMPS STUDY-DK Article Open access 28 September 2021 THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN STEPS PER DAY AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN CHILDREN Article Open

access 26 January 2022 DIFFERENCES IN THE ACTIVITY INTENSITY DISTRIBUTION OVER THE DAY BETWEEN BOYS AND GIRLS AGED 3 TO 17 YEARS Article Open access 28 May 2025 REFERENCES * Zimmet, P. Z.

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references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * School of Human Movement Studies, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Australian Technology Network Centre for Metabolic

Fitness, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, Qld 4059, Brisbane, Australia Andrew P. Hills * Faculty of Education, Child Obesity Research Centre, University of

Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, 2522, NSW, Australia Anthony D. Okely * University of Sydney, Clinical School, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked bag 4001,

Westmead, 2145, NSW, Australia Louise A. Baur Authors * Andrew P. Hills View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Anthony D. Okely View author

publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Louise A. Baur View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CONTRIBUTIONS

A. P. Hills and A. D. Okely researched the data for the article. A. P. Hills and L. A. Baur provided a substantial contribution to discussions of the content and writing the article. A. P.

Hills, A. D. Okely and L. A. Baur contributed equally to reviewing and/or editing of the manuscript before submission. CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Andrew P. Hills. ETHICS

DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS The authors declare no competing financial interests. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Hills, A., Okely,

A. & Baur, L. Addressing childhood obesity through increased physical activity. _Nat Rev Endocrinol_ 6, 543–549 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2010.133 Download citation *

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