Obesity, adolescence, physical activity and health

Abstract

In the following lines you will find observations on the behavior of the Brazilian adolescent population about their eating habits and their incidence in obesity indexes. Dr. Bankof and the researching team intend to explain the causes of the epidemiologic phenomenon that Brazil is suffering in respect to obesity. It also makes reference to the relationship with other chronical degenerative pathologies caused by obesity (diabetes, hypertension, cardiopathies, among others). The purpose is to demonstrate that physical activity is a correcting agent of these deficiencies and that the modification of sedentary lifestyle and eating habits may reduce the problems associated to obesity. The present article was presented in the Brazilian Symposium. Sports Phenomena in the Third Millenium, 1999.