Energy expenditure, physical activity, and obesity in children

The average healthy child can regulate energy intake to match energy needs for expenditure plus growth. Obesity is one of the most common states of energy imbalance, resulting from a loss in this regulatory ability. Despite popular belief, there is only one weak piece of evidence to support the notion that obesity is due either to an excess energy intake or reduction in energy expenditure or physical activity. In this article, the influence of energy expenditure and physical activity on the etiology of obesity in children will be reviewed.