The Impact of Obesity on the Fitness Performance of School-Aged Children Living in Rural Areas-The West Attica Project

Exploring Self-Reported Physical Activity Levels and Physical Fitness in Italian Children: A Mediation and Moderation Analysis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Skill-related physical fitness is a crucial factor influencing health status during childhood. Starting from the lack of knowledge in the field of skill-related physical fitness and levels of physical activity in Southern Italy, this cross-sectional study aims to explore the mediating and moderating influence of PAL on the association between BMI and skill-related physical fitness.

METHODS

The sample (N = 387 students; male = 196, age = 12.2 ± 0.87 yrs; female = 191, age = 12.3 ± 0.93) was recruited from schools in the Apulia Region. The assessment included standing long jump (SLJ), 2 kg medicine ball throw (MBT) and 10 × 5 shuttle run (10 × 5) as indicators of physical fitness, and a self-report for measuring daily physical activity (PAL). A 2 (gender) × 3 (BMI cutoff)-factorial ANOVA was performed to highlight differences between groups for physical fitness components and PAL. Then, mediation and moderation models were created, establishing BMI as the independent variable, physical fitness tests as dependent variables, and PAL as the mediator and moderator variable.

RESULTS

The findings showed higher physical fitness and PAL in male and female normal-weight groups than in those who were overweight and obese. Mediation analysis revealed that higher PAL improved performance in SLJ (b = 0.091, p < 0.01, R2 = 17.16%), led to a modest understanding of the variation in MBT (ΔR2 = 0.026), and significantly reduced the time spent to perform 10 × 5 (p < 0.0, R2 = 10.72%).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the obtained results, future research is needed to further understand the association between physical fitness and the sociocultural determinants of physical activity to guide institutional policies and interventions to prevent poor health habits.

A multivariate multilevel approach to unravel the associations between individual and school factors on children's motor performance in the REACT project

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to (1) estimate the relationship between physical fitness (PF) and object control fundamental movement skills (FMS), (2) identify child characteristics that relate with PF and FMS, and (3) examine associations between the school environment, PF, and FMS.

METHODS

The sample included 1014 Portuguese children aged 6-10 years from the REACT project. PF was assessed via running speed, shuttle run, standing long jump, handgrip, and the PACER test. Object control FMS were assessed with stationary dribble, kick, catch, overhand throw, and underhand roll. Test performances were transformed into z-scores, and their sum was expressed as overall PF and FMS. Child-level variables included body mass index (BMI) z-scores, accelerometer-measured sedentary time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and socioeconomic status (SES). School size, physical education classes, practice areas, and equipment were also assessed.

RESULTS

Approximately, 90% of the variance in object control PF and FMS was at the child level, and 10% at the school level. The correlation between PF and object control FMS was .62, which declined to .43 with the inclusion of covariates. Older, more active, and higher SES children had higher object control PF and FMS, and boys outperformed girls. BMI was negatively associated with PF but not with object control FMS. Sedentary time and number of physical education classes were not significant predictors. Most school predictors did not jointly associate with PF and object control FMS.

CONCLUSION

PF and object control FMS z-scores were moderately related. Not all child characteristics were associated with both PF and object control FMS, and their effect sizes were different. School characteristics only explained 10% of the total variation in PF and object control FMS.

Mediating role of physical activity levels on physical fitness in overweight and obese children when Body Mass Index is not a determining factor

Background and Study Aim. Physical fitness is a crucial health indicator in children and adolescents. Despite the global rise in overweight and obesity, the impact of Body Mass Index (BMI) on physical fitness remains unclear. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate: (R1) the differences in physical fitness components and physical activity levels among children according to gender and BMI, and (R2) the mediating role of physical activity in the relationship between BMI and physical fitness components. Material and Methods. The sample was made of 180 students aged 11-14 years (n=90 – male; n=90 - female) divided according to BMI cutoff in normal weight, overweight and obese. Physical fitness components were assessed with several tests: Standing Long Jump (SLJ), Medicine Ball Throw 2Kg (MBT), Shuttle Run 10x5m (10x5), and One Mile Walk Test. Physical activity levels were evaluated with a self-reported questionnaire. A two-way factorial MANOVA was conducted to assess the effects of gender and BMI on physical fitness. Additionally, a mediation analysis was performed to explore the effect of physical activity on the relationship between BMI and physical fitness. Results. Results revealed significant differences in the Standing Long Jump (SLJ), 10x5 Shuttle Run, One Mile Walk Test, and physical activity levels, with moderate to large effect sizes observed. Males demonstrated higher levels of physical fitness and physical activity levels (PAL) compared to females. Individuals of normal weight were generally more active and stronger than their overweight and obese peers. Mediation analysis revealed that physical activity completely mediates the relationship between BMI and physical fitness components. Conclusions. Results from the present study suggest that the development of physical fitness is not solely determined by BMI, but also depends on the daily practice of physical activity. Future research is needed to assess the effect of physical activity in mediating and moderating the relationship between obesity and physical fitness.

The Association of Maternal Weight Status throughout the Life-Course with the Development of Childhood Obesity: A Secondary Analysis of the Healthy Growth Study Data

Maternal weight-status at various time-points may influence child obesity development, however the most critical time-point remains unidentified. We used data from the Healthy Growth Study, a cross-sectional study of 2666 Greek schoolchildren aged 9-13 years, exploring associations between childhood obesity and maternal weight-status at pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy/gestational weight gain, and at the child's pre-adolescence. Logistic regression analyses examined associations between maternal weight-status being "below" or "above" the recommended cut-off points (WHO BMI thresholds or IOM cut-off points), at the three time-points, individually or combined into weight-status trajectory groups to determine the strongest associations with child obesity in pre-adolescence. Adjusted models found significant associations and the highest odds ratios [95% Confidence Intervals] for mothers affected by obesity before pregnancy (4.16 [2.47, 7.02]), those with excessive gestational weight gain during pregnancy (1.50 [1.08, 2.08]), and those affected by obesity at their child's pre-adolescence (3.3 [2.29, 4.87]). When combining these weight-status groups, mothers who were above-above-below (3.24 [1.10, 9.55]), and above-above-above (3.07 [1.95, 4.85]) the healthy weight recommendation-based thresholds in each time-point, had a three-fold higher likelihood of child obesity, compared to the below-below-below trajectory group. Maternal obesity across all examined time-points was significantly associated with childhood obesity. Effective childhood obesity preventive initiatives should commence at pre-conception, targeting maternal weight throughout the life-course and childhood developmental stages.

Comparative characteristics of developing morphofunctional features of schoolchildren from different climatic and geographical regions

OBJECTIVES

Adaptation processes in body of schoolchildren, along with study load and social factors, are determined by influence of climatic and geographical factors of residence region. This research has been undertaken to study the morphofunctional characteristics of schoolchildren at the age of 7-17 years.

METHODS

The research involved 880 schoolchildren of both sexes in age from 7 to 17 years, studying in secondary school №22 in Pavlodar (Kazakhstan) and secondary school №7 in Kyzylorda (Kazakhstan). The Quetelet index of northern schoolchildren was within the norm but higher compared to southern peers.

RESULTS

The Quetelet index was within the normal range for all schoolchildren, but higher among northerners. The indicator of the life index in the boys of the south was higher up to 10 years, then the adaptive possibilities of breathing decreased; in the girls in the north this indicator was higher in all periods, except for 8-9 years. The physical performance index (PWC170/kg) was higher in children from the southern region.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed significant geographical differences in the morphofunctional development of children. The obtained data served allowed establishing the "Electronic map of schoolchildren's health" and indicated the need for systematic accounting of schoolchildren's health indicators for effective development of differentiated prevention programs.

The Effect of Maternal Overweight and Obesity Pre-Pregnancy and During Childhood in the Development of Obesity in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Literature Review

Maternal overweight/obesity has been associated with an increased risk of obesity in childhood. We investigated the effect of maternal overweight/obesity during pre-pregnancy and whether it is a stronger predictor of child obesity, compared to maternal overweight/obesity during childhood. Prospective or retrospective cohort studies published in English, reporting on obese children and adolescents (2-18 years), with overweight/obese mothers in either pre-pregnancy or during childhood were included. A search was conducted from 2012 to April 2022 in MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL, and EMBASE, followed by screening, data extraction, quality assessment and narrative synthesis. Eleven eligible studies (9 prospective and 2 retrospective cohort studies; total sample, n = 27,505) were identified. Eight studies examined maternal overweight/obesity in pre-conception, presenting consistent positive associations with childhood obesity, three reported positive associations between childhood obesity and maternal overweight/obesity during childhood, and one presented positive associations between both maternal exposures. The narrative synthesis failed to identify which maternal exposure is the strongest predictor of childhood obesity, with studies reporting significant associations between maternal overweight/obesity and child obesity in both time points. Intervention programs aiming to reduce childhood obesity should focus on supporting women of childbearing age with weight management from preconception and throughout their life-course.