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Can we modulate physical activity in children?

International Journal of Obesity volume 35, pages 1266–1269 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

There is concern that interventions that use physical activity to prevent obesity in children might be undermined by an ‘Activitystat’, which exerts an effect to maintain a low set point for physical activity. The present critique summarises evidence from systematic reviews of interventions, from empirical tests of the Activitystat hypothesis, from studies on the heritability of physical activity in childhood and the physical activity of children of and adolescents across a wide range of physical and cultural environments. This body of evidence is inconsistent with the Activitystat hypothesis in its current form, and suggests that the emphasis on physical activity in obesity prevention interventions in children should be increased, not reduced.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by Scottish Funding Council.

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  1. University of Strathclyde, Physical Activity for Health Research Group, School of Psychological Sciences and Health, Jordanhill Campus, Southbrae Drive, Glasgow, Scotland, UK

    J J Reilly

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Correspondence to J J Reilly.

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Reilly, J. Can we modulate physical activity in children?. Int J Obes 35, 1266–1269 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2011.62

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