Abstract

This chapter reviews the newest literature linking physical inactivity and low fitness to metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors including obesity. The focus will be on a description of the arthereosclerotic process; key mechanisms which link physical activity to the biological CVD risk factors; CVD risk factor levels in European children; associations between physical activity/fitness and CVD risk factors; tracking of physical activity, fitness and CVD risk factors; and overweight and obesity in children. It can be concluded that there is a large potential for primary prevention of CVD and obesity in European children, and lifestyle changes including increased physical activity as one of the key actions should be initiated. Aus dem Verf.-Referat (erweitert)