ABSTRACT
Physical inactivity and low levels of fitness are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This chapter describes the association between physical activity/fitness and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including clustered CVD risk in children. It examines key mechanisms which link physical activity to the biological CVD risk factors, including the atherosclerotic process; screening of metabolically unhealthy children. The chapter discusses the effect of interventions to promote physical activity and decrease CVD risk in children. It focuses on studies published in the last decade and purposely omitted older studies because these reports have been covered. The association between metabolic health and physical activity is driven by the physiological changes related to both the acute and the more prolonged effects of physical activity. Ultrasound has become a useful tool for the early detection of cardiovascular/atherosclerosis disease before any overt symptoms are present.
