title: [Differential role of physical activity and diet in the prevention of childhood obesity: pre-eminence of physical activity].
abstract: The current theory, known as the "theory ofenergy balance", perceives paediatric obesity, like adults' obesity, as the result of an excessively positive energy balance. Thus, prevention endeavours have focused on controlling calories intake and dietary education, with increases in physical activity (PA) having just a supporting role. Paradoxically, preventive programmes developed with this vision are not satisfactory, whereas some recent findings suggest, that in the growing body of youths, PA may stimulate stem cells to differentiate preferentially into lean tissue. These observations advocate the emergence of a new theoretical framework to childhood obesity prevention: the "developmental theory", which posits the pre-eminence of PA. As a result, preventive strategies that would emphasise vigorous PA rather than food intake control can help youths develop lean bodies, at the same time that they ingest sufficient amounts of the energy and accompanying nutrients needed for a healthy growth.
authors.affiliation: EA 2694, Laboratoire de Santé Publique, UFR Ingénierie et Management de la Santé (ILLS), UDSL/Universite Lille-Nord, France. benjamin.guinhouya@univ-lille2.fr
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Guinhouya
authors.affiliation: Georgia Prevention Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gutin
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*