Invited Commentary

Commentary on “Reducing High BMI in African American Preschoolers Effects of a Behavior-Based Physical Activity Intervention on Caloric Expenditure”

Authors: Andrea Holt Duke, PhD

Abstract

In this month’s issue of the Southern Medical Journal, Annesi and colleagues presents their study on the impact of childhood obesity and propose an interventional program to diminish the medical and emotional impacts on overweight and obese children.1 Their focus on children of excessive weight is clearly an important issue because the number of overweight and obese children continues to increase in our population. The authors identified the factors of decreased physical activity and increased caloric intake as fundamental to weight increases in children. More specifically for children in preschool and child care settings, the lack of time spent engaging in physical activity is problematic.2

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References

1. Annesi JJ, Smith AE, Tennant GA. Reducing high BMI in African American preschoolers: effects of a behavior-based physical activity intervention on caloric expenditure. South Med J. 2013; 106: 456–459.
 
2. Ward DS, Vaugh A, McWilliam C, et al. Physical activity at child care settings: review and research recommendations. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2009; 3: 474–488.
 
3. Solving the problem of childhood obesity within a generation: White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity. Report to the President. http://www.letsmove.gov/sites/letsmove.gov/files/TaskForce_on_Childhood_Obesity_May2010_FullReport.pdf. Published May 2010. Accessed March 12, 2013.
 
4. Stracciolini A, Myer GD, Faigenbaum AD. Exercise-deficit disorder in children: are we ready to make this diagnosis? Phys Sportsmed. 2013; 41: 94–101.
 
5. Frisby W, Crawford S, Dorer T. Reflections on participatory action research. The case of low-income women accessing local physical activity services. J Sport Manag. 1997; 11: 8–28.
 
6. Coakley J. Using sports to control deviance and violence among youths: let’s be critical and cautious. In: Gatz M, Messner MA, Ball-Rokeach E. , (eds): Paradoxes of Youth and Sport. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2002; pp 13–30.
 
7. Holt NL, Jones MI. Future direction of the role of organized sport in the education and health of American youth. In: Poinsett A. , (ed): The Role of Sports in Youth Development: The Carnegie Meeting Papers. New York: Carnegie Corporation, 1999; pp 1–57.