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Tsolakis C, Cherouveim ED, Skouras AZ, Antonakis-Karamintzas D, Czvekus C, Halvatsiotis P, Savvidou O, Koulouvaris P. The Impact of Obesity on the Fitness Performance of School-Aged Children Living in Rural Areas-The West Attica Project. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191811476. [PMID: 36141749 PMCID: PMC9517351 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the relationship of body mass index (BMI) with muscle and cardiorespiratory fitness in children living within rural areas (regional unit of West Attica) in Greece. Participants included 399 students (187 boys, 212 girls), ages 8-12 years old, and were evaluated in physical performance tests. The point prevalence of overweight and obesity was 21.39% and 26.20% in boys, and 19.90% and 23.79% in girls. Significant differences were observed in all physical performance tests (handgrip, long jump, shuttle run, trunk flexors, and extensors endurance) between normal weight and obese participants. BMI was positively correlated with handgrip (r = 0.442-0.462, p < 0.001). There was a negative association with long jump (r = -0.206, p < 0.001), 20 m shuttle run (r = -0.394, p < 0.001), trunk flexors (r = -0.403, p < 0.001) and trunk extensors endurance (r = -0.280, p < 0.001). The regression analysis showed that 20-30% of the overall variation for physical performance assessments could be accounted for by BMI, age, and sex. With the exception of the long jump and the endurance of the trunk extensors, BMI alone may explain more than 10% of the outcome of most tests. This study highlights the determinant of BMI on muscle and cardiorespiratory fitness. The management of obesity should begin early in childhood to prevent adult chronic cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charilaos Tsolakis
- 1st Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
- Sports Performance Laboratory, School of Physical Education & Sports Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-693-275-5173
| | - Evgenia D. Cherouveim
- 1st Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
- School of Physical Education & Sports Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237 Athens, Greece
| | - Apostolos Zacharias Skouras
- 1st Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Cara Czvekus
- Health Science, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA
| | - Panagiotis Halvatsiotis
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine Propaedeutic “Attikon” University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Olga Savvidou
- 1st Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Koulouvaris
- 1st Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
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