Genes, exercise, growth, and the sedentary, obese child.

Full Abstract

It is still not possible to provide an evidence-based answer to the question of whether regular exercise is essential for normal growth. It is also unclear whether very low levels of exercise result in growth deficits. Regular exposure to exercise is characterized by heterogeneity in responsiveness, with most individuals experiencing improvements in fitness traits but a significant proportion showing only very minor gains. Whether a sedentary mode of life during the growing years results in a permanent deficit in cardiorespiratory fitness or a diminished ability to respond favorably to regular exercise later in life remains to be investigated. Although several genes have been associated with fitness levels or response to regular exercise, the quality of the evidence is weak mainly because studies are statistically underpowered. The special case of the obese, sedentary child is discussed, and the importance of the "energy gap" in the excess weight gain during growth is highlighted. Obese, sedentary children have high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, elevated glycemia and type 2 diabetes, hepatic steatosis, respiratory problems, orthopedic complications, and other health disorders more frequently than normal weight, physically active children. The role of genetic differences in the inclination to be sedentary or physically active is reviewed. An understanding of the true role of genetic differences and regular exercise on the growth of children will require more elaborate paradigms incorporating not only DNA sequence variants and exercise exposure but also information on nutrition, programming, and epigenetic events during fetal life and early postnatal years.

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Author information

Author/s: Teran-Garcia, Margarita (M); Rankinen, Tuomo (T); Bouchard, Claude (C);

Affiliation: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) (J Appl Physiol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Sep; vol 105 (issue 3) : pp 988-1001

Dates: Created 2008/09/09; Completed 2008/10/03;

PMID: 18535128, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adolescent Development
Animals
Cardiovascular System - physiopathology
Child
Child Development
Energy Metabolism - genetics
Epigenesis, Genetic
Exercise

Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Health Behavior
Humans
Life Style
Obesity - genetics; physiopathology; prevention & control
Phenotype
Physical Fitness
Respiratory System - physiopathology
Weight Gain - genetics

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