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Query: UMLS:C0028754 (obesity)
 124,988 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Although human energy expenditure has been studied for over 100 years, many unanswered questions remain regarding the role that individual components of energy expenditure have in the etiology of obesity. Most techniques for measuring physical activity, the most variable component of TDEE, are less than adequate, and differences in energy metabolism are difficult to detect in a static comparison. When energy expenditure is examined in obese and lean subjects at one point in time, there frequently are no differences in energy expenditure when appropriately normalized. However, when subjects are studied longitudinally or when the system is perturbed (such as overfeeding or exercising), differences can be observed. Using a combination of the techniques available today, each component can be reliably studied, and the role that each has in the development of obesity can be ascertained.
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PMID:Energy expenditure. 897 48

Childhood obesity is arguably the most significant global public health threat, yet effective strategies to contain or prevent the disease are not available. This review examines the physical activity patterns of children and the role physical activity plays in daily energy expenditure. The prevailing focus on moderate to vigorous activity in childhood means there is limited objective information on either sedentary behaviour or non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), the energy expended during the activities of daily living. Most strategies targeting the prevention of childhood obesity have focused upon adding moderate to vigorous activity and have not been particularly successful. The low efficacy of more purposeful activity is perhaps not surprising because of the small variance in children's physical activity levels explained by moderate to vigorous activity. Subtle changes in NEAT have in contrast been shown to account for differences in fat-mass gain or resistance in adults. Theoretically, manipulating a child's living environment to enhance NEAT would create a positive gain in TDEE, a gain that could lead to the prevention of excess fat-mass. More careful consideration of the specific aspects of physical activity that are most influential in the maintenance of body weight in childhood is a priority. Appreciating the role NEAT may play in the variation of total daily energy expenditure in children is a future challenge for physical activity research. Key pointsExcessive weight gain affects children in both developed and developing countries alike, and results initially from small energy imbalances. Increasing the energy expended in daily living has the potential to re-adjust energy balance and prevent initial excess weight gain.Sedentary behaviour and light intensity movement, as opposed to moderate or vigorous movement, dominate a child's day. We need to understand more about which aspects of activity account for variance in total daily energy expenditure in children.Finding innovative and creative ways to increase the daily energy children expend should be a priority.
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PMID:Physical activity - a neat solution to an impending crisis. 2414 23