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The Role of Diet

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Pediatric Obesity

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

Abstract

One of the few things certain about obesity is that weight is gained only when energy intake (EI) exceeds energy needs for a prolonged period of time. However, EI must be considered in the context of an individual’s energy requirements. When expressed per kilogram of body weight, energy needs in children are much greater than those in adults owing to the demands of growth and development (1). Obesity results not from a high absolute energy intake, which may match energy needs in a growing, physically active child, but from intake which exceeds energy needs on a regular basis.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, London, UK

    Laura Johnson

  2. Medical Research Council Collaborative Centre for Human Nutrition Research, Cambridge, UK

    Susan Jebb

Authors
  1. Laura Johnson
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  2. Susan Jebb
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, and Diabetes, Duke University, DUMC 3080, Durham, 27710, North Carolina, USA

    Michael Freemark

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Johnson, L., Jebb, S. (2010). The Role of Diet. In: Freemark, M. (eds) Pediatric Obesity. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-874-4_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-874-4_10

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-873-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-874-4

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