Associations between physical fitness and activity patterns during adolescence and cardiovascular risk factors in young adulthood: the Northern Ireland Young Hearts Project

Validity and Reliability of a Telehealth Physical Fitness and Functional Assessment Battery for Ambulatory Youth With and Without Mobility Disabilities: Observational Measurement Study

BACKGROUND

Youth (age 15-24 years) with and without disability are not adequately represented enough in exercise research due to a lack of time and transportation. These barriers can be overcome by including accessible web-based assessments that eliminate the need for on-site visitations. There is no simple, low-cost, and psychometrically sound compilation of measures for physical fitness and function that can be applied to youth with and without mobility disabilities.

OBJECTIVE

The first purpose was to determine the statistical level of agreement of 4 web-modified clinical assessments with how they are typically conducted in person at a laboratory (convergent validity). The second purpose was to determine the level of agreement between a novice and an expert rater (interrater reliability). The third purpose was to explore the feasibility of implementing the assessments via 2 metrics: safety and duration.

METHODS

The study enrolled 19 ambulatory youth: 9 (47%) with cerebral palsy with various mobility disabilities from a children's hospital and 10 (53%) without disabilities from a university student population. Participants performed a battery of tests via videoconferencing and in person. The test condition (teleassessment and in person) order was randomized. The battery consisted of the hand grip strength test with a dynamometer, the five times sit-to-stand test (FTST), the timed up-and-go (TUG) test, and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) either around a standard circular track (in person) or around a smaller home-modified track (teleassessment version, home-modified 6-minute walk test [HM6MWT]). Statistical analyses included descriptive data, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and Bland-Altman plots.

RESULTS

The mean time to complete the in-person assessment was 16.9 (SD 4.8) minutes and the teleassessment was 21.1 (SD 5.9) minutes. No falls, injuries, or adverse events occurred. Excellent convergent validity was shown for telemeasured hand grip strength (right ICC=0.96, left ICC=0.98, P<.001) and the TUG test (ICC=0.92, P=.01). The FTST demonstrated good agreement (ICC=0.95, 95% CI 0.79-0.98; P=.01). The HM6MWT demonstrated poor absolute agreement with the 6MWT. However, further exploratory analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between the tests (r=0.83, P<.001). The interrater reliability was excellent for all tests (all ICCs>0.9, P<.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that videoconference assessments are convenient and useful measures of fitness and function among youth with and without disabilities. This paper presents operationalized teleassessment procedures that can be replicated by health professionals to produce valid and reliable measurements. This study is a first step toward developing teleassessments that can bypass the need for on-site data collection visitations for this age group. Further research is needed to identify psychometrically sound teleassessment procedures, particularly for measures of cardiorespiratory endurance or walking ability.

A Reference Equation for Peak Oxygen Uptake for Pediatric Patients Who Undergo Treadmill Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing

Pediatric patients are often referred to cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) laboratories for assessment of exercise-related symptoms. For clinicians to understand results in the context of performance relative to peers, adequate fitness-based prediction equations must be available. However, reference equations for prediction of peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) in pediatrics are largely developed from field-based testing, and equations derived from CPET are primarily developed using adult data. Our objective was to develop a pediatric reference equation for VO2peak. Clinical CPET data from a validation cohort of 1,383 pediatric patients aged 6 to 18 years who achieved a peak respiratory exchange ratio ≥1.00 were analyzed to identify clinical and exercise testing factors that contributed to the prediction of VO2peak from tests performed using the Bruce protocol. The resultant prediction equation was applied to a cross-validation cohort of 1,367 pediatric patients. Exercise duration, gender, weight, and age contributed to the prediction of VO2peak, generating the following prediction equation: (R2 = 0.645, p <0.001, standard error of the estimate = 6.19 ml/kg/min): VO2peak (ml/kg/min) =16.411+ 3.423 (exercise duration [minutes]) - 5.145 (gender [0 = male, 1 = female]) - 0.121 (weight [kg]) + 0.179 (age [years]). This equation was stable across the age range included in the present study, with differences ≤0.5 ml/kg/min between mean measured and predicted VO2peak in all age groups. In conclusion, this study represents what we believe is the largest pediatric CPET-derived VO2peak prediction effort to date, and this VO2peak prediction equation provides clinicians who perform and interpret exercise tests in pediatric patients with a resource with which to better quantify fitness when CPET is not available.

Structural modeling of EFL/ESL teachers' physical activity, mental health, psychological well-being, and self-efficacy

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) is known to positively affect individuals' mental and physical health, especially those who experience high levels of stress, such as teachers. Previous studies have examined the relationship between teachers' PA, mental health, and well-being. Still, there is a lack of research on the direct and indirect effects of PA and self-efficacy.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the structural relationship between teachers' PA, mental health, well-being, and self-efficacy among ESL/EFL teachers. A total of 364 Chinese English language teachers were selected through convenience sampling. Mental health, physical activity, psychological well-being, and self-efficacy instruments were used.

METHODOLOGY

The data was analyzed using Smart PLS software, and the hypothesized model was evaluated. The results indicated an acceptable level of divergent and convergent validity and goodness of fit.

RESULTS

The findings revealed that PA directly predicts teachers' mental health and well-being, but the direct structural relationship between teachers' PA and self-efficacy was not confirmed. However, the results showed that teachers' PA contributes to their self-efficacy by enhancing their mental and psychological well-being. The total effect of teachers' PA on their self-efficacy was significant. Additionally, mental health and psychological well-being strongly influenced teachers' self-efficacy.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, regular weekly physical activity can help EFL/ESL teachers foster their mental health, psychological well-being, and self-efficacy. These findings have theoretical and practical significance for teachers, trainers, and educational psychologists.

Influence of Sport Practice and Body Weight on Physical Fitness in Schoolchildren Living in the Campania Region

Background: Physical fitness (PF) levels correlate with health hallmarks at all ages. In this study, w aimed to determine the PF level of schoolchildren from the Campania Region (Italy) through health-related PF (HRPF) components, taking into account body weight and sport practice (SP). Methods: PF level was determined in 565 schoolchildren aged 10−13 (11.7 ± 1.0 yrs; m: 353, f: 212) using some of the Eurofit battery tests. Results: 77% children practiced sport, boys more than girls (86% vs. 63%, respectively; p < 0.05). Boys performed better than girls (p < 0.05) in the Plate Tapping, Standing Broad Jump, Bent-Arm Hang, and 10 × 5 m Shuttle Run tests; girls performed better in the Sit-and-Reach Test (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Overweight/obese status negatively affects the muscular strength of lower limbs, even if it progressively improves during growth. SP was revealed to be a determinant in performance only in some PF tests, likely due to the heterogeneous training level among boys and girls who practice sport.

Association of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Levels During Youth With Health Risk Later in Life: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

IMPORTANCE

Although the associations between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and health in adults are well understood, to date, no systematic review has quantitatively examined the association between CRF during youth and health parameters later in life.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the prospective association between CRF in childhood and adolescence and future health status and to assess whether changes in CRF are associated with future health status at least 1 year later.

DATA SOURCES

For this systematic review and meta-analysis, MEDLINE, Embase, and SPORTDiscus electronic databases were searched for relevant articles published from database inception to January 30, 2020.

STUDY SELECTION

The following inclusion criteria were used: CRF measured using a validated test and assessed at baseline and/or its change from baseline to the end of follow-up, healthy population with a mean age of 3 to 18 years at baseline, and prospective cohort design with a follow-up period of at least 1 year.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Data were processed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Random-effects models were used to estimate the pooled effect size.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Anthropometric and adiposity measurements and cardiometabolic health parameters.

RESULTS

Fifty-five studies were included with a total of 37 563 youths (46% female). Weak-moderate associations were found between CRF at baseline and body mass index (r = -0.11; 95% CI, -0.18 to -0.04; I2 = 59.03), waist circumference (r = -0.29; 95% CI, -0.42 to -0.14; I2 = 69.42), skinfold thickness (r = -0.34; 95% CI, -0.41 to -0.26; I2 = 83.87), obesity (r = -0.15; 95% CI, -0.23 to -0.06; I2 = 86.75), total cholesterol level (r = -0.12; 95% CI, -0.19 to -0.05; I2 = 75.81), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level (r = 0.11; 95% CI, 0.05-0.18; I2 = 69.06), total cholesterol to HDL-C ratio (r = -0.19; 95% CI, -0.26 to -0.13; I2 = 67.07), triglyceride levels (r = -0.10; 95% CI, -0.18 to -0.02; I2 = 73.43), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (r = -0.12; 95% CI, -0.18 to -0.06; I2 = 68.26), fasting insulin level (r = -0.07; 95% CI, -0.11 to -0.03; I2 = 0), and cardiometabolic risk (r = -0.18; 95% CI, -0.29 to -0.07; I2 = 90.61) at follow-up. Meta-regression analyses found that early associations in waist circumference (β = 0.014; 95% CI, 0.002-0.026), skinfold thickness (β = 0.006; 95% CI, 0.002-0.011), HDL-C level (β = -0.006; 95% CI, -0.011 to -0.001), triglyceride levels (β = 0.009; 95% CI, 0.004-0.014), and cardiometabolic risk (β = 0.007; 95% CI, 0.003-0.011) from baseline to follow-up dissipated over time. Weak-moderate associations were found between change in CRF and body mass index (r = -0.17; 95% CI, -0.24 to -0.11; I2 = 39.65), skinfold thickness (r = -0.36; 95% CI, -0.58 to -0.09; I2 = 96.84), obesity (r = -0.21; 95% CI, -0.35 to -0.06; I2 = 91.08), HDL-C level (r = 0.05; 95% CI, 0.02-0.08; I2 = 0), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (r = -0.06; 95% CI, -0.11 to -0.01; I2 = 58.94), and cardiometabolic risk (r = -0.08; 95% CI, -0.15 to -0.02; I2 = 69.53) later in life.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This study suggests that early intervention and prevention strategies that target youth CRF may be associated with maintaining health parameters in later life.

Associations of body mass index, physical activity and sedentary time with blood pressure in primary school children from south-west England: A prospective study

Elevated blood pressure in children is a significant risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. We examined how children’s body mass index (BMI), physical activity and sedentary time at ages 9 and 11 are associated with blood pressure at age 11. Data were from 1283 children from Bristol, UK, who participated in the study aged 11 years, 797 of whom also participated in the study aged 9 years. Child height, weight and blood pressure were measured, and children wore accelerometers for five days, from which moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity and sedentary minutes per day were derived. Multiple imputation of missing data and adjusted linear and logistic regression models were used to examine associations. Child BMI at 11 years was cross-sectionally associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure (mean difference [95% confidence interval]: 0.91 [0.32 to 1.50] mm Hg and 1.08 [0.54 to 1.62] mm Hg, respectively, per standard deviation (SD) of BMI). BMI at age 9 was also positively associated with diastolic blood pressure at age 11 (1.16 mmHg per two years [0.49 to 1.84], per SD of BMI). For girls, sedentary time at age 9 years was associated with increased odds of having high systolic blood pressure at age 11 (odds ratio: 1.08 [1.01 to 1.16], per 10 minutes per day). There was no evidence of associations between sedentary time and blood pressure among boys. Similarly, there was little evidence that physical activity was associated with blood pressure in either cross-sectional or prospective analyses. Effective strategies are needed to prevent excess bodyweight among children in order to reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

Changes in cardiorespiratory fitness through adolescence predict metabolic syndrome in young adults

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been suggested to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). We aimed to longitudinally examine the changes of CRF on MetS and its risk factors from adolescence to adulthood.

METHODS AND RESULTS

At the age of 15 years, 1076 subjects were recruited from 2 cohorts. CRF was measured on a cycle ergometer. MetS was classified as having at least 3 of the following parameters above the threshold of risk factors: waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), high blood pressure (BP) and fasting glucose. In addition, insulin, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Persistently high, increasing, decreasing and persistently low CRF groups were formed according to change in CRF from adolescence to adulthood. Longitudinal increase in CRF was positively associated with change in HDL and negatively associated with change in insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, BP and prevalence of MetS after adjustment for potential confounders. Subjects with persistently low CRF had 11.5- to 34.4-times higher risk of MetS at the age of 25 and 33 years compared to subjects with persistently high CRF and 14.6- to 15.9-times higher risk compared to the increasing CRF group.

CONCLUSION

Higher CRF is strongly related to lower values of MetS risk factors. Increasing CRF from adolescence to adulthood reduces the risk to have MetS later in adulthood. High CRF in adolescence that decreases during adulthood has similar risks to MetS compared to individuals with persistently low CRF.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Childhood and Adolescence Affects Future Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies

BACKGROUND

Although cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in childhood and adolescence may be linked to future cardiovascular health, there is currently limited evidence for a longitudinal association.

OBJECTIVES

To provide a systematic review on the prospective association between CRF in childhood and adolescence and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors at least 2 years later.

METHODS

Using a systematic search of Medline, Embase, and SPORTDiscus, relevant articles were identified by the following criteria: generally healthy children and adolescents between 3 and 18 years of age with CRF assessed at baseline, and a follow-up period of ≥ 2 years. The outcome measures were CVD risk factors. We appraised quality of the included articles with STROBE and QUIPS checklists.

RESULTS

After screening 7524 titles and abstracts, we included 38 articles, assessing 44,169 children and adolescents followed up for a median of 6 years. Eleven articles were of high quality. There was considerable heterogeneity in methodology, measurement of CRF, and outcomes, which hampered meta-analysis. In approximately half of the included articles higher CRF in childhood and adolescence was associated with lower body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, body fatness and lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome in later life. No associations between CRF in childhood and adolescence and future waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure, lipid profile, and glucose homeostasis were observed.

CONCLUSION

Although about half of the included articles reported inverse associations between CRF in childhood and adolescence and future BMI, body fatness, and metabolic syndrome, evidence for other CVD risk factors was unconvincing. Many articles did not account for important confounding factors such as adiposity. Recommendations for future research include standardizing the measurement of CRF, i.e. by reporting VO_2max, using standardized outcome assessments, and performing individual patient data meta-analyses.

What Do We Know about Diet and Markers of Cardiovascular Health in Children: A Review

Chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main health concerns in the 21st century, with CVD as the number one cause of mortality worldwide. Although CVD hard endpoints such as stroke or heart attack do not usually occur in children, evidence shows that the manifestation of CVD risk factors begins in childhood, preceding clinical complications of CVD in adulthood. Dietary intake is a modifiable risk factor that has been shown to make a substantial contribution to the risk of CVD in adulthood. However, less is known about the association between dietary intake and markers of cardiovascular health in children. This review summarises the current evidence on the relationship between dietary intake and markers of cardiovascular health including traditional CVD risk factors, physical fitness, and indices of arterial stiffness and wave reflection in children. Original research published in English, between January 2008 and December 2018 fulfilling the objective of this review were screened and included. Findings show that adaptation of a healthy lifestyle early in life can be beneficial for reducing the risk of CVD later in life. Furthermore, keeping arterial stiffness low from a young age could be a potential CVD prevention strategy. However, limited studies are available on diet-arterial stiffness relationship in children, and future research is required to better understand this association to aid the development and implementation of evidence-based strategies for preventing CVD-related complications later in life.

Longitudinal changes in physical capacity from adolescence to middle age in men and women

The aim was to investigate how physical capacity changes from adolescence through early adulthood to middle age with focus on early aging. The aim was also to study if physical capacity in middle age could be predicted by factors in adolescence or early adulthood. A cohort of men and women in Sweden (SPAF-1958, n = 425) have been followed for 36 years, at 16, 34, and 52 years of age. The study includes, among other variables, objective measures of physical capacity. At age 52, 50% of the original cohort participated in exercise testing. Physical capacity increased from 16 to 34 years. From 34 to 52 years, physical capacity decreased in both genders by 15-20% in all but one test. Physical capacity at 16 and 34 years of age were better predictors of physical capacity at age 52 than body dimensions, school grades and life style factors. In conclusion, present data confirm earlier cross-sectional studies regarding the decrease in aerobic capacity and muscular strength during the early ageing period in both genders. The study has also generated novel data that show a smaller decline in muscular endurance than previously reported. Finally, physical capacity is fairly stable from adolescence to middle age.

Influence of different sports on fat mass and lean mass in growing girls

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the effects of different sports (swimming, football, basketball, and handball) on fat mass and lean mass in prepubertal and pubertal girls.

METHODS

Two hundred girls (10.6 ± 1.5 years old, Tanner stages I-III) participated in the study and were divided into 5 groups: 40 swimmers, 40 football players, 40 basketball players, 40 handball players, and 40 controls. Fat and lean masses at whole body, arms, trunk, and legs were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Pubertal status was determined using Tanner test. Effects of different sports on fat and lean masses were assessed through analysis of covariance with height as covariates. Analyses were performed separately in 2 groups depending on the Tanner stage (prepubertal and pubertal).

RESULTS

The girls of the control group had less lean mass and more fat mass compared to the girls who play sports (p < 0.05). There were differences in body fat between sports. The swimmers and football players had less body fat (p < 0.05). On the other hand, handball players showed the highest values in lean mass (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Impact sports (football, basketball, and handball) and low-impact sports (swimming) provide an appropriate development of lean mass in growing girls. We can conclude that people practicing sports at early ages ensure a lower fat mass and higher lean mass compared to those who do not practice. These results may be useful as a preventive method of adult obesity.

Adolescent Trajectories of Aerobic Fitness and Adiposity as Markers of Cardiometabolic Risk in Adulthood

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate whether adolescent growth trajectories of aerobic fitness and adiposity were associated with mid-adulthood cardiometabolic risk (CMR).

METHODS

Participants were drawn from the Saskatchewan Growth and Development Study (1963-1973). Adolescent growth trajectories for maximal aerobic capacity (absolute VO₂ (AbsVO₂)), skinfolds (SF), representing total body (Sum6SF) and central adiposity (TrunkSF), and body mass index (BMI) were determined from 7 to 17 years of age. In mid-adulthood (40 to 50 years of age), 61 individuals (23 females) returned for follow-ups. A CMR score was calculated to group participants as displaying either high or a low CMR. Multilevel hierarchical models were constructed, comparing the adolescent growth trajectories of AbsVO_2, Sum6SF, TrunkSF, and BMI between CMR groupings.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the adolescent development of AbsVO_2, Sum6SF, TrunkSF, and BMI between adult CMR groupings (p > 0.05). Individuals with high CMR accrued 62% greater adjusted total body fat percentage from adolescence to adulthood (p=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Growth trajectories of adolescent aerobic fitness and adiposity do not appear to be associated with mid-adulthood CMR. Individuals should be encouraged to participate in behaviours that promote healthy aerobic fitness and adiposity levels throughout life to reduce lifelong CMR.

Physical activity, adiposity and hypertension among patients of public healthcare system

INTRODUCTION

Hypertension is a chronic disease that requires special attention in identifying comorbidities or risk factors including inactivity and obesity. Considering that a large proportion of the Brazilian population is hypertensive, obese, and sedentary, the relationship among these variables in the context of the public health system is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association among physical activity, markers of adiposity, and hypertension in adult users of the public healthcare system in the city of Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil.

METHODS

The study was conducted in five Basic Health Units in Bauru, São Paulo, and consisted of 963 patients. Data were collected from habitual physical activity and previous (childhood and adolescence), education, purchasing power and anthropometric markers of overall and abdominal obesity.

RESULTS

The incidence of hypertension was 76.8%. Significant associations were found among sedentarism, presence of total and abdominal obesity, with the higher incidence of hypertension. It was also observed that the magnitude of association between hypertension and adiposity increased with decreased involvement in physical activity.

CONCLUSION

Further investigations are needed to analyze the occurrence of overweight and obesity in people suffering from chronic diseases in order to prevent future complications.

Effects of active rehabilitation therapy on muscular back strength and subjective pain degree in chronic lower back pain patients

[Purpose] This study applied active rehabilitation therapy to muscular back strength and assessed the subjective pain degree in chronic low back pain patients. [Subjects and Methods] Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: experimental (n=8) and control (n=8). The experimental group performed two types of rehabilitation therapy programs four times per week for eight weeks. The rehabilitation program was based on the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency’s program. There were several types of stretching and strengthening. Back strength was measured using the Back Muscle Dynamometer TKK-5402. The visual analog scale score, selected to measure degrees of subjective pain, was used to assess treatment efficacy. [Results] For the experimental group, muscular back strength increased from 133.90 ± 11.84 kg before exercise to 145.59 ± 14.49 kg after exercise. In the control group, muscular back strength decreased from 133.92 ± 3.84 kg before exercise to 133.90 ± 5.81 kg after exercise. In the experimental group, the visual analog scale score for subjective pain decreased from 6.63 ± 0.52 before exercise to 5.75 ± 0.46 after exercise; in the control group, it decreased from 5.61 ± 0.52 before exercise to 5.61 ± 0.52 after exercise. [Conclusion] Active rehabilitation therapy is a positive intervention that can provide relief from back pain.

Effects of exercise therapy on muscular strength in firefighters with back pain

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine how an exercise program focusing on muscular strength could aid firefighters with chronic lower back pain. [Subjects] The research subjects were randomly assigned to two groups, the experimental group (n=8) and the control (n=8). [Methods] The experimental group performed two types of exercise programs four times per week for 8 weeks under supervision. Tests were performed before and after the 8 weeks of exercise in accordance with the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency’s program. [Results] At the end of the 8 weeks of the rehabilitation program, abdominal muscular strength were significantly increased in the experimental group, and this indicates that the exercise therapy was effective for improvement of muscular strength. [Conclusion] We found that exercise therapy is an effective intervention that can reduce the pain of patients with chronic lower back pain. The firefighters with chronic lower back pain who participated in this study exhibited enhanced lower back muscular strength and obtained some additional benefits. They need regular exercise.

Linking cardiorespiratory fitness classification criteria to early subclinical atherosclerosis in children

It is unclear if cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) can be used as a screening tool for premature changes in carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in paediatric populations. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was 3-fold: (i) to determine if CRF can be used to screen increased cIMT; (ii) to determine an optimal CRF cut-off to predict increased cIMT; and (iii) to evaluate its ability to predict increased cIMT among children in comparison with existent CRF cut-offs. cIMT was assessed with high-resolution ultrasonography and CRF was determined using a maximal cycle test. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were conducted in boys (n = 211) and girls (n = 202) aged 11-12 years to define the optimal sex-specific CRF cut-off to classify increased cIMT (≥75th percentile). Logistic regression was used to examine the association between the CRF cut-offs with the risk of having an increased cIMT. The optimal CRF cut-offs to predict increased cIMT were 45.81 and 34.46 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1) for boys and girls, respectively. The odds-ratios for having increased cIMT among children who were unfit was up to 2.8 times the odds among those who were fit (95% confidence interval: 1.40-5.53). Considering current CRF cut-offs, only those suggested by Adegboye et al. 2011. (Br. J. Sports Med. 45(9): 722-728) and Boddy et al. 2012 (PLoS One, 7(9): e45755) were significant in predicting increased cIMT. In conclusion, CRF cut-offs (boys: ≤ 45.8; girls: ≤ 34.5 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1)) are associated with thickening of the arterial wall in 11- to 12-year-old children. Low CRF is an important cardiovascular risk factor in children and our data highlight the importance of obtaining an adequate CRF.

Effects of exercise therapy on blood lipids of obese women

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to examine the effects of exercise therapy on blood lipids of obese women. [Subjects] The subjects were 24 clinically obese women. [Methods] The subjects were divided into an exercise group (n=12), and a control group (n=12). The exercise group performed exercise for 10 weeks with diet restriction. We investigated how this type of exercise influenced blood lipids. Blood was taken before and after the intervention. The collected blood was centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 10 minutes; and plasma was preserved at -73 °C. For hemanalysis, a medical laboratory was asked to analyze total cholesterol and triglyceride. The exercise was performed 5 times per week, and an exercise was performed every two days, and exercise program was composed of warm up, main exercise and cool down. [Results] There were significant differences between the two groups in blood lipid levels after the intervention. The differences between the two groups in TC and TG were significant. [Conclusion] TC and TG significantly inproved in the experimental group showing that the exercise was effective at improveing blood lipid levels.

Physical fitness in Spanish schoolchildren aged 6-12 years: reference values of the battery EUROFIT and associated cardiovascular risk

BACKGROUND

Physical fitness is considered an important indicator of health in children. The aims of this study were to (1) provide sex- and age-specific EUROFIT battery levels of fitness in Spanish children; (2) compare Spanish children's fitness levels with those of children from other countries; and (3) determine the percentage of Spanish children with cardiovascular risk associated with low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).

METHODS

Physical fitness was assessed using the EUROFIT tests in 1725 children, aged 6 to 12, from Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. We derived specific values for physical fitness using LMS method. FITNESSGRAM 2010 criteria were used to estimate the percentage of children with cardiovascular risk associated with low CRF.

RESULTS

Boys scored higher in all the physical fitness tests, except for the flexibility test. Physical fitness improved as age increased, except for flexibility, which worsened in boys, and VO2max, which decreased in both sexes. The prevalence of boys and girls with cardiovascular risk associated to low CRF was 13% and 26%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Specific fitness test scores for children and adolescents can represent the fitness status of schoolchildren accurately. Schools need to make efforts to improve the fitness level of the schoolchildren to prevent cardiovascular risk.

Aerobics, quality of life, and physiological indicators of inactive male students' cardiovascular endurances, in kashan

BACKGROUND

Studies show that lack of exercise and physical activity during childhood and teenage years is directly related to different diseases in adulthood.

OBJECTIVES

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an eight-week aerobic exercise on the quality of life as well as physiological indicators of cardiovascular endurance of inactive high school male students in Kashan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was a field trial using pretest and post-test. Three hundred high school male students in Kashan, Iran, were recruited and interviewed by the researchers, using a questionnaire. Of the inactive ones, 30 who reached the highest criteria standards, were selected as samples and randomly divided to two equal groups. The maximum consumed oxygen (VO2max) and resting heart rate were measured by Quinn aerobic test, and the quality of life was measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-26-Breef) questionnaire. The exercise program included an eight-week aerobic exercise, three times per week, with 60%-75% of the maximum heart beat. During the exercise, the subjects had no other sport activity. To check the normal distribution of the data, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used. To evaluate the pretest and post-test results, paired t-test was used and for comparing the groups, independent t-test was applied. All the analyses were performed by SPSS software version 16.

RESULTS

The mean ages of intervention and control groups were 17.46 ± 1.30 and 17.53 ± 1.18, respectively. The mean weight of the intervention group was 56.73 ± 9.91 kg and its mean body mass index (BMI) was 19.88 ± 3.42. In the control group, the mean weigh and BMI were 60.06 ± 11.96 kg and 20.79 ± 3.51, respectively. The quality of life and its components improved significantly in the intervention group (physical (P = 0.0001), mental (P = 0.0001), social (P = 0.0001), and environmental (P = 0.0001) aspects). VO2max (P = 0.001) and the resting heart beat (P = 0.0001) significantly improved in the intervention group. No significant difference was observed in the control group (P ≥ 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Aerobic exercise program improved the quality of life as well as the physiological indicators. Physical activities can be used as both appropriate model and nonpharmaceutical approach to prevent and cure some diseases.

Effect of whole-body vibration therapy on health-related physical fitness in children and adolescents with disabilities: a systematic review

PURPOSE

To summarize the current literature regarding the effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) therapy on the health-related physical fitness of children and adolescents with disabilities.

METHODS

A literature search using MEDLINE-PubMed, SPORT DISCUS, and EMBASE databases was conducted up to August 2013. A total of 22 articles were included in this review (eight randomized controlled trials, four non-randomized controlled trials, three case reports, and seven reviews).

RESULTS

Most of the studies showed positive effects of WBV on health-related physical fitness in children and adolescents with disabilities. Overall, 10-20 minutes at least three times per week, for a minimum of 26 weeks, with high frequency (between 15 and 35 Hz) and low amplitude (no more than 4 mm of peak-to-peak displacement) might be an appropriate protocol to achieve improvement in body composition and muscular strength.

CONCLUSIONS

Because no serious adverse events have been observed, WBV might be defined as a safe treatment to be applied in children and adolescents with disabling conditions. Further research is recommended to explore the minimum dose of exposure to WBV required to elicit an optimal response in children and adolescents for improving health-related physical fitness. These may be translated into a more specific WBV protocol.

Health impact of sport and exercise in emerging adult men: a prospective study

PURPOSE

Health benefits of sport and exercise are well documented in children, adolescents and adults, but little is known about emerging adulthood-a period of life characterized by significant demographic and developmental changes. The present study aimed to assess the health impact of changes in sport and exercise levels during that specific period of life.

METHODS

The analysis used baseline and 15-month follow-up data (N = 4,846) from the cohort study on substance use risk factors. Associations between baseline exercise levels or changes in exercise levels and health indicators (i.e., health-related quality of life, depression, body mass index, alcohol dependence, nicotine dependence and cannabis use disorder) were measured using chi-squared tests and ANOVA. Direction of effects was tested using cross-lagged analysis.

RESULTS

At baseline, all health indicator scores were observed to be better for regular exercisers than for other exercise levels. At follow-up, participants who had maintained regular exercise over time had better scores than those who had remained irregular exercisers or had discontinued, but their scores for health-related quality of life and depression were close to those of participants who had adopted regular exercise after the baseline questionnaire. Cross-lagged analysis indicated that regular exercise at baseline was a significant predictor of health-related quality of life and substance use dependence at follow-up, but was itself predicted only by health-related quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

From a health promotion perspective, this study emphasizes how important it is for emerging adult men to maintain, or adopt, regular sport and exercise.

Motivation for physical activity in children: a moving matter in need for study

Motivation for physical activity in children below the age of 12 years is a largely underrepresented issue in contemporary research. Although engagement in sufficient physical activity is highly important for children's current and later health, relatively little is known of the factors that motivate children to be physically active. Various theories have been developed in an attempt to explain motivation toward physical activity in adults. Recent developments have focussed on integrating constructs of these theories in order to attain a comprehensive account of motivated behavior. The relationships between different motivational constructs have generally been investigated in healthy adolescents and adults. This manuscript outlines why more theoretically driven research into children's motivation toward physical activity is needed. Constructs stemming from various motivational theories and their interrelationship as evidenced in youth and adults will be summarized. The current state of research on the applicability of these motivational constructs to children, and the generalizability of the interrelationship between the constructs to child samples will be outlined. A deeper insight into the motivational determinants of physical activity participation in children could inform the design of interventions to facilitate the development of physically active lifestyles that persist at older ages.

A study of effect of the compound physical activity therapy on muscular strength in obese women

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to determine how compound physical activity affects muscular strength of middle-aged obese women. [Subjects] The research subjects were 40-50 year-old middle-aged women with excess body fat (30%). [Methods] The subjects were randomly assigned to two group, the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group performed two types of exercise programs for 16 weeks. Aerobic physical activity was performed 5 times per week, and anaerobic physical activity was performed every two days, and the exercise program each day was composed of a warm-up, the main exercise, and cooldown. The type of exercise focused on walking at a quick pace, and the intensity of the exercise focused on long periods of exercise at low intensity with the level of HRmax being 40-60%. The weight training, which was useful for beginners, as a type of kinetic load exercise, was applied with a composition recommended by the ACSM for muscle fitness (intensity of 40-60% of 1 RM and 10-15 repetitions). SPSS version 16.0 was used to analyze the data by ANCOVA and the t-test. [Results] The chest, leg, and abdominal strengths were significantly increased in the experimental group, and this indicates that compound physical activity is effective for improvement of muscular strength. [Conclusion] In conclusion, there were significant differences between groups in terms of muscular strength.

Physical Activity and Blood Pressure in Primary School Children

High blood pressure (BP) is becoming increasingly common during childhood. Regular physical activity (PA) reduces BP in adults, but limited studies have reported inconsistent results among children. The aim of this study is to examine, for the first time, the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between BP and objectively measured PA in young children of predominantly South Asian background. Data from the Birmingham healthy Eating and Active lifestyle for CHildren Study were analyzed. Five hundred seventy-four children, aged 5 to 7 years, underwent a series of measures at baseline and were followed up 2 years later. PA was objectively measured using accelerometry and converted to counts per minute (total PA, cpm), and time spent in moderate-vigorous PA (minutes per day). BP was measured by trained staff using standard protocols. Data were available for 512 children at baseline (mean age 6.5 years, range 5.4–7.8 years), and 427 of these children were followed up. Baseline total PA was inversely associated with diastolic BP at both baseline (adjusted regression coefficient: −0.75 mm Hg [95% CI −1.33 to −0.18] per 20 cpm) and follow-up (−0.74 mm Hg [95% CI −1.40 to −0.08]). All associations remained unchanged after further adjustment for weight status. This study strengthens evidence of a causal association between higher PA and lower BP in children as young as 5, independent of weight status. The results provide support for development of interventions to increase PA in young children.

Physical activity and sedentary behaviour at different life stages and adult blood pressure in the 1958 British cohort

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether physical activity or sedentary behaviour at different life stages is associated with blood pressure (BP) in mid-adulthood; activity levels have accumulative associations with BP; and adult body mass index (BMI) mediates associations.

METHODS

Information on activity and television-viewing was available at several ages (23, 33, 42, 45 years) and BP at 45 years for the 1958 British birth cohort (n = 9927). Associations were examined with and without adjustment for covariates.

RESULTS

Active adults, generally, had lower mean systolic and diastolic BP and risk of hypertension than nonactive, although varying by age. After adjustment for covariates, systolic and diastolic BP for active men at 23 years or at 45 years were 1-2 mmHg lower; similar associations were seen for women active at 33 years. Some but not all associations attenuated with further adjustment for BMI: odds ratio (OR) for hypertension associated with 23 years activity changed from 0.82 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74, 0.91] to 0.79 (0.70, 0.90) after BMI adjustment. Independent associations of activity at more than one age were found, such that prevalence of hypertension was higher in men active at 23 years but not at 45 years, than men sustaining activity (39 vs. 31%). Sitting at work was unrelated to BP, but there was a trend of higher BP with greater television-viewing: for example risk of hypertension was higher by 10-12% per h/day television-viewing at 45 years after adjustment for covariates, attenuating after allowance for BMI.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that there are benefits to BP of becoming and sustaining active lifestyles and minimizing television-viewing over many years of adulthood, with a mediating role for BMI.

Determinants and patterns of physical activity practice among Spanish university students

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the socio-demographic and lifestyle determinants of physical activity practice, as well as the motivations for being or not being physically active in Spanish university students. A representative sample of students from a Spanish university (n = 2,051; 42.1% males; mean age 21.9, s = 4.8 years) participated in the present cross-sectional study. A questionnaire including questions regarding lifestyle, dietary habits, parents' characteristics, and physical activity habits was administered to the students. The socio-demographic and lifestyle determinants of physical activity practice were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. 68.4% of men and 48.4% of women reported to practise physical activity in the present sample. Those who practised physical activity consumed more fruits and were less likely to be smokers compared to non-physically active students. Also, physically inactive men spent more time in front of the computer and physically inactive women spent more time in front of the TV and were more likely to be frequent alcohol consumers. Maternal educational level and maternal physical activity habits were also important determinants of physical activity practice among men and women respectively. In conclusion, physically active students tended to engage in other healthy habits in the present population, suggesting the clustering of healthy or unhealthy lifestyle factors among specific subgroups.

How is active transport associated with children's and adolescents' physical activity over time?

BACKGROUND

As few longitudinal studies have examined how active transport is associated with physical activity among children and adolescents over time, and how active transport tracks through childhood and adolescence, it is important to understand whether physically active children retain their activity patterns through adolescence. This study aimed to examine (a) tracking of active transport and of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) across childhood and adolescence in two age cohorts; and (b) associations between active transport and MVPA at three distinct time-points, over five years.

METHODS

This longitudinal study of two cohorts aged 5-6 years (n = 134) and 10-12 years (n = 201) at baseline (T1), in Melbourne, Australia, gathered follow-up data at three (T2) and five years (T3). Walking/cycling to local destinations was survey-reported; while MVPA was recorded using accelerometers and mean time spent daily in MVPA on week days and on weekends was computed. Tracking of these behaviours was examined over five years using General Estimating Equations. Linear regression analyses were performed to examine associations between active transport and MVPA at each time-point.

RESULTS

Active transport tracked moderately among children (boys, βs = 0.36; girls, βs = 0.51) but not among adolescents. Physical activity tracked moderately (βs value range: 0.33-0.55) for both cohorts. Active transport was not associated with children's MVPA at any time-point, but was associated with adolescent boys' MVPA on week days at T1 (B = 1.37 (95% CI: 0.15, 2.59)), at T2 (B = 1.27 (95% CI: 0.03, 2.51)) and at T3 (B = 0.74 (95% CI: 0.01, 1.47)), and with adolescent girls' MVPA on week days (B = 0.40 (95% CI: 0.04, 0.76)) and on weekends (B = 0.54 (95% CI: 0.16, 0.93)) at T3 only.

CONCLUSION

Active transport was associated only with boys' MVPA during early adolescence and with boys' and girls' MVPA during late adolescence. While active transport should be encouraged among all school-aged children, it may provide an important source of habitual physical activity for adolescent girls, in particular, among whom low and declining physical activity levels have been reported world-wide.

Comparison of VO2 maximum obtained from 20 m shuttle run and cycle ergometer in children with and without developmental coordination disorder

Oxygen consumption at peak physical exertion (VO(2) maximum) is the most widely used indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness. The purpose of this study was to compare two protocols for its estimation, cycle ergometer testing and the 20 m shuttle run, among children with and without probable developmental coordination disorder (pDCD). The shuttle run test was conducted during regular school hours, usually in the gymnasium. Children were then invited to a lab to complete the cycle ergometer protocol. Children were categorized as possible cases of DCD using the Movement-ABC-2. The analysis was performed using cut-points at both the 5th (n=38) and 15th (n=51) percentiles. The average age of children in the study was 12 years (SD=0.5). Children with pDCD had poorer VO(2) maximum when compared to typically developing children based on both the shuttle run and the cycle ergometer. The correlation between tests is in the moderate to high range (r=0.71, p<0.001); 0.78 for girls, and 0.73 for boys. The overall difference in correlations between typically developing children and children with pDCD based on the 15th percentile was 0.12 (p=0.27). For children with pDCD based on the 5th percentile however, the difference between groups was larger (difference in r=0.25), and was statistically significant (p=0.02). In multivariate analyses, there was no difference in the effect of the shuttle run results in predicting VO(2) maximum obtained through the cycle ergometer test for children with pDCD compared to those without the condition. Regardless of the test, the patterns of association between children with pDCD and typically developing children were the same reinforcing the findings of previous field-based reports. Moderate to good correlations, at the 15th percentile cut-point, between tests suggests that the shuttle run test is a reliable substitute in this population when lab based assessments of VO(2) maximum are not feasible.

Are safety-related features of the road environment associated with smaller declines in physical activity among youth?

This study examined how objective measures of the local road environment related to safety were associated with change in physical activity (including active transport) among youth. Few longitudinal studies have examined the impact of the road environment on physical activity among children/adolescents in their neighborhoods. Participants were children aged 8-9 years (n = 170) and adolescents aged 13-15 years (n = 276) in 2004. Data were collected in 2004 and 2006 during follow-up of participants recruited initially in 2001 from 19 primary schools in Melbourne, Australia. Walking/cycling to local destinations was parent-reported for children and self-reported by adolescents. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during nonschool hours was recorded using accelerometers. Road environment features in each participant's neighborhood (area within 800 m radius of their home) were measured objectively using a Geographical Information System. Linear regression analyses examined associations between road features and changes in active transport (AT) and MVPA over 2 years. Children's AT increased but MVPA levels decreased in both age groups; on average, younger girls recorded the greatest declines. The number of traffic/pedestrian lights was associated with DeltaAT among younger girls (B=0.45, p=0.004). The total length of walking tracks (in meters) was associated with AT among younger girls (B = 0.0016, p = 0.015) and adolescent girls (B = 0.0016, p = 0.002). For adolescent boys, intersection density was associated with AT (B = 0.03, p = 0.030). Slow points were associated with MVPA among younger boys before school (B = 1.55, p = 0.021), while speed humps were associated with MVPA among adolescent boys after school (B = 0.23, p = 0.015). There were many associations for adolescent girls: for example, the total length of local roads (B = 0.49, p = 0.005), intersection density (B = 0.05, p = 0.036), and number of speed humps (B = 0.33, p = 0.020) were associated with MVPA during nonschool hours. Safety-related aspects of the built environment are conducive to physical activity among youth and may help stem age-related declines in physical activity. Passive road safety interventions may promote AT and physical activity among less active girls, in particular.

Correlations between the blood pressure and other health variables in Spanish adolescents

The aim of this paper was to study the correlations between blood pressure and other health variables in Spanish adolescents. 204 boys and 270 girls (aged 13-17 years, with written parental consent,) from 18 private and 17 public educative centers from 16 of 21 districts of the city of Madrid, constituted the representative sample. 12.7% of the boys and 35.6% of the girls were inactive or sedentary. Socioeconomic status significantly determined the physical activity of girls, especially in the age group 16-17 years. The tobacco consumption by girls was significantly greater than by boys. A significant inverse relation of tobacco consumption with physical activity was found for boys. Among the girls, 47.4% were lightly overweight to obese as opposed to 14.7% of boys. A significant association between adiposity and physical activity in the girls was observed. The averages for the systolic/diastolic blood pressure were 125.6/71.3 mm Hg in boys and 118/69.4 mm Hg in girls. A significant relation between gender and systolic blood pressure was found. A relation between physical activity and diastolic blood pressure for boys was observed (69.9 mm Hg for active or very active and 74.1 mm Hg for moderately active to sedentary). The lack of existing relations between blood pressure and others variables support the hypothesis that these variables require a longer-term to become obvious cardiovascular risk factors. We believe, therefore, that girls and those from lower socioeconomic status should receive high-priority attention concerning health-related habits.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and the risk of overweight in youth: the Healthy Hearts Longitudinal Study of Cardiometabolic Health

The primary objective of this longitudinal study was to determine the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and the risk of overweight status in youth. To accomplish this aim we analyzed data from annual school-based surveys of cardiorespiratory fitness and anthropometry conducted between 2004 and 2006. The first analysis was performed on a cohort of 902 youth aged 6-15 years followed for 12 months to assess the association between cardiorespiratory fitness levels determined from a graded maximal field test and the risk of becoming overweight. The second analysis was conducted on a cohort of 222 youth followed for 2 years to assess the continuous association between annual changes fitness and weight gain. Children with low cardiorespiratory fitness were characterized by higher waist circumference and disproportionate weight gain over the 12-month follow-up period (P < 0.05). Within the entire cohort, the 12-month risk of overweight classification was 3.5-fold (95% confidence = 2.0-6.0, P < 0.001) higher in youth with low cardiorespiratory fitness, relative to fit peers. A time series mixed effects regression model revealed that reductions in cardiorespiratory fitness were significantly and independently associated with increasing BMI (r = -0.18, P < 0.05) in youth. Accordingly, low cardiorespiratory fitness and reductions in fitness over time are significantly associated with weight gain and the risk of overweight in children 6-15 years old. An assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness using a common field test may prove useful for the identification of youth at risk of overweight and serve as a potential target for obesity prevention.

Physical activity and prevalence of hypertension in a population-based sample of Brazilian adults and elderly

OBJECTIVES

a) To determine the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors and b) to establish the impact of past (i.e. adolescence) and current physical activity on hypertension.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of people aged 40 years or more living in the urban area of Pelotas - Brazil (2003). Hypertension was assessed by self-report of medical diagnosis. Individuals were considered active in adolescence if they reported regular physical activity practice between the ages 10 and 19 years. In adulthood, individuals who performed > or =150 min/week of leisure-time physical activities were considered active. Other variables studied included skin color, age, smoking, body mass index and socioeconomic status.

RESULTS

1696 individuals were interviewed (response rate >95%). Prevalence of hypertension was 34.4% (CI(95%) 32.1-36.7) and varied considerably among population subgroups. Current physical activity showed no association with hypertension. Physical activity in adolescence was associated with a decreased risk of adulthood hypertension in the crude analyses for women (p<0.001). However, after adjusting for potential confounders and mediators, this protection was no longer significant 1.20 (CI(95%) 0.93-1.55).

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of hypertension is high among Brazilians and markedly different among population subgroups. There was no robust evidence of association between adolescence physical activity practice and hypertension in later life.

Younger age of escalation of cardiovascular risk factors in Asian Indian subjects

Background

Cardiovascular risk factors start early, track through the young age and manifest in middle age in most societies. We conducted epidemiological studies to determine prevalence and age-specific trends in cardiovascular risk factors among adolescent and young urban Asian Indians.

Methods

Population based epidemiological studies to identify cardiovascular risk factors were performed in North India in 1999–2002. We evaluated major risk factors-smoking or tobacco use, obesity, truncal obesity, hypertension, dysglycemia and dyslipidemia using pre-specified definitions in 2051 subjects (male 1009, female 1042) aged 15–39 years of age. Age-stratified analyses were performed and significance of trends determined using regression analyses for numerical variables and Χ² test for trend for categorical variables. Logistic regression was used to identify univariate and multivariate odds ratios (OR) for correlation of age and risk factors.

Results

In males and females respectively, smoking or tobacco use was observed in 200 (11.8%) and 18 (1.4%), overweight or obesity (body mass index, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) in 12.4% and 14.3%, high waist-hip ratio, WHR (males > 0.9, females > 0.8) in 15% and 32.3%, hypertension in 5.6% and 3.1%, high LDL cholesterol (≥ 130 mg/dl) in 9.4% and 8.9%, low HDL cholesterol (<40 mg/dl males, <50 mg/dl females) in 16.2% and 49.7%, hypertriglyceridemia (≥ 150 mg/dl) in 9.7% and 6%, diabetes in 1.0% and 0.4% and the metabolic syndrome in 3.4% and 3.6%. Significantly increasing trends with age for indices of obesity (BMI, waist, WHR), glycemia (fasting glucose, metabolic syndrome) and lipids (cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol) were observed (p for trend < 0.01). At age 15–19 years the prevalence (%) of risk factors in males and females, respectively, was overweight/obesity in 7.6, 8.8; high WHR 4.9, 14.4; hypertension 2.3, 0.3; high LDL cholesterol 2.4, 3.2; high triglycerides 3.0, 3.2; low HDL cholesterol 8.0, 45.3; high total:HDL ratio 3.7, 4.7, diabetes 0.0 and metabolic syndrome in 0.0, 0.2 percent. At age groups 20–29 years in males and females, ORs were, for smoking 5.3, 1.0; obesity 1.6, 0.8; truncal obesity 4.5, 3.1; hypertension 2.6, 4.8; high LDL cholesterol 6.4, 1.8; high triglycerides 3.7, 0.9; low HDL cholesterol 2.4, 0.8; high total:HDL cholesterol 1.6, 1.0; diabetes 4.0, 1.0; and metabolic syndrome 37.7, 5.7 (p < 0.05 for some). At age 30–39, ORs were- smoking 16.0, 6.3; overweight 7.1, 11.3; truncal obesity 21.1, 17.2; hypertension 13.0, 64.0; high LDL cholesterol 27.4, 19.5; high triglycerides 24.2, 10.0; low HDL cholesterol 15.8, 14.1; high total:HDL cholesterol 37.9, 6.10; diabetes 50.7, 17.4; and metabolic syndrome 168.5, 146.2 (p < 0.01 for all parameters). Multivariate adjustment for BMI, waist size and WHR in men and women aged 30–39 years resulted in attenuation of ORs for hypertension and dyslipidemias.

Conclusion

Low prevalence of multiple cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemias, diabetes and metabolic syndrome) in adolescents and rapid escalation of these risk factors by age of 30–39 years is noted in urban Asian Indians. Interventions should focus on these individuals.

Nutrient intake, physical activity, and CVD risk factors in children: Project HeartBeat!

BACKGROUND

Associations among dietary intake, physical activity, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are inconsistent among male and female youth, possibly from lack of adjustment for pubertal status. The purpose of this report is to describe the associations of CVD risk factors among youth, adjusted for sexual maturation.

METHODS

Data analyzed in 2007 from a sumsample of 556 children aged 8, 11, and 14 years in Project HeartBeat!, 1991-1993, provide cross-sectional patterns of CVD risk factors by age and gender, adjusting for sexual maturation, within dietary fat and physical activity categories.

RESULTS

Girls consuming moderate- to high-fat diets were significantly less physically active than those consuming low-fat diets. Boys and girls consuming high-fat diets had higher saturated fat and cholesterol intakes than children in low-fat categories. Boys had no significant differences in physical activity, blood pressure, waist circumference, or plasma cholesterol levels across fat categories. Girls' plasma cholesterol levels showed no significant differences across fat categories. Dietary intake did not differ across moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) categories within gender. There were no differences in BMI by fat or MVPA categories for either gender. Girls' waist circumference differed significantly by fat category, and systolic blood pressure differed significantly across fat and MVPA categories. Boys' fifth-phase diastolic blood pressure was significantly different across MVPA categories.

CONCLUSIONS

Girls consuming atherogenic diets were significantly less physically active than those with low fat intakes, whereas boys consuming high-fat diets did not show differences in physical activity measures. With the prevalence of overweight rising among youth, the impact of atherogenic diets and sedentary lifestyles on CVD risk factors is of concern to public health professionals.

Criterion-related validity of the one-mile run/walk test in children aged 8-17 years

We assessed the criterion-related validity of Cureton's equation for estimating peak oxygen consumption (VO(2peak)) from the one-mile run/walk test in endurance-trained children aged 8-17 years. Altogether, 66 physically active white children and adolescents (32 girls, 34 boys) completed a graded exercise test to volitional exhaustion and the one-mile run/walk test. Cureton's equation was used to estimate VO(2peak), and was assessed using several error measures. Agreement between measured VO(2peak) and estimated VO(2peak) was analysed by the Bland and Altman method. The correlation coefficient between measured VO(2peak) and one-mile run/walk time was -0.59 (P < 0.001) and that between measured and estimated VO(2peak) was 0.70 (P < 0.001). The mean difference between measured and estimated VO(2peak) was 10 ml . kg(-1) . min(-1) (95% CI = 9.2-11.8; P < 0.001). The standard error of the estimate was 3 ml . kg(-1) . min(-1), and the percentage error was 32%. There was a positive association between the measured and estimated VO(2peak) difference and the measured and estimated VO(2peak) mean, which indicates that the higher the VO(2peak) the higher the error of the estimate. These findings did not change markedly when the analyses were performed by sex, age group or body mass status. These results suggest that Cureton's equation systematically underestimates VO(2peak) in endurance-trained children with high VO(2peak).