THE INFLUENCE OF WEIGHT AND SENDETARY PARENTS IN OVERWEIGHT ADOLESCENTS: WHAT IS THE ROLE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY?

Abstract

The determinant environmental vectors of overweight in adolescents include sedentary lifestyle through the reduction of physical activity and increased information technology with the use of computers and television, excess energy from carbohydrates and lipids, the use of motorized transport and reduction or exclusion of physical education classes in the school curriculum. However, it seems paradoxical, but there is the relationship between obesity and malnutrition and the contribution of genetics. Given this reality, the factors that contribute to increased body weight in adolescents has aroused the interest of researchers in the health area, because there are still gaps in our understanding of the forms of interaction between these factors and it is difficult to draw accurate conclusions about the disease. In this study, we performed a literature review between 1991 and 2007 on the relationship of physical activity, weight and influence of parents in overweight adolescents and the role of physical activity to help young people with good health. The recommendation is that all adolescents should perform at least 60 minutes per day of moderate physical activity and reduce the daily time spent with television and computer. Special attention must be paid to children of overweight parents, because these youngsters are more likely to develop overweight and therefore diseases associated with excessive weight.