Effect of increased physical activity on body composition during growth different groups of children (longitudinal studies)

Abstract

Increased spontaneous motor activity is one of the most marked characteristics of the developing organism during the growth period. Maintenance of an increased motor activity during later periods of life when there is already a natural tendency towards its reduction leads to the maintenance of some selected properties in the organism which correspond to earlier developmental stages—e.g. those pertaining to lipid metabolism. The question arises how changes in the regime of activity, i.e. an increase (in keeping with the natural trend) or conversely its reduction during the growth period can influence body composition in relation to other characteristics of the human organism in which we can investigate these changes from some aspects in more detail.