Physical Activity and Nutritional Education as School-based Interventions to Control Obesity in Children and Adolescents

The inordinate increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity at the international level today is one of the targets of concern the department of public health, and gradually has been the focus of many studies and interventions which emphasize the need for more evidence to clear and effective its prevention and reduction. Obesity can affect the short or long term health of individuals, through problems such as left ventricular hypertrophy in young-adult and atherosclerosis, which is due to the formation of plaques of fat in the arterial wall and may lead to coronary artery disease , cerebrovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease. The promotion of regular practice of physical activity through physical education school can be an effective way to prevent obesity among children, especially girls. There is an inverse relationship between physical activity and incidence of hypertension. The earlier the entrance to the practice of physical activities, there will be more effective in combating the increase in body mass index (BMI). Nutrition Education is to extend the knowledge on nutrition and the ability to understand the practices and eating behavior, improving the relationship of the individual in the environment which is introduced, allowing the taking of decisions under the situation presented.