ABSTRACT
Although growth is basically driven by the genotype, the growth process employs nutrients as its main source of energy to regulate and restore the body through metabolic and neuroendocrine mechanisms, which can be amplified by physical activity (PA). Daily energy consumption is used to produce voluntary movements (physical activity), in the growth process, in reproduction, in the maintenance of the basal metabolism and in food digestion. Maintenance requirements are dependent on morphology; maturation and activity and growth requirements are dependent on the rate of new cells synthesis. All excess consumed energy is converted into fat and stored in the adipose cells (Cordain et al., 1998).
