Energy expenditure during active video game play is comparable to moderate-intensity walking. Thus, for children who spend considerable time playing electronic screen games for entertainment, physically active games seem to be a safe, fun, and valuable means of promoting energy expenditure.

Results support the positive impact of dance-based exergaming on obese adolescents' psychological functioning and perceived competence to continue exercise.

We determined whether arterial compliance measured by pulse wave analysis is impaired in obese pubertal children compared to normal weight controls, and assessed whether arterial compliance is associated with ambulatory activity. Body fat percentage was significantly different between the normal (n = 33) and obese (n = 34) participants (P < .001). Large (P = .012) and small (P < .001) arterial compliance were lower in the normal-weight group. After adjusting for height, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, race, sex, and Tanner stage, large arterial compliance was no longer different between groups (P = .066), whereas small arterial compliance remained higher in the obese group (P < .001). Obese pubertal children have paradoxically increased small arterial compliance compared to that of normal weight children, even after adjusting for height, blood pressure, race, sex, and Tanner stage. Thus, obesity in adolescence is not associated with impairments in small arterial compliance.

Background: With the rapid increase in obesity rates, determining critical periods for weight gain and the effects of changes in fat mass is imperative. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in body weight and composition over the holiday season (Thanksgiving through New Year's) in male and female college students.

Underweight children (BMI ≤5%) have an increased risk of hospitalization from the emergency department, even when adjusted for age and sex. In particular, hospitalization among underweight patients was increased for those patients with respiratory infections and fractures. No difference was seen between admission rates of overweight (BMI ≥85%) or obese (BMI ≥95%) patients from those of normal-weight patients. This warrants the need to counsel patients and their families on the dangers not only of obesity, but also of being underweight. Emphasis should be placed on healthy lifestyles that include well-balanced meals and exercise.