Low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and abdominal resistance are associated with metabolic risk in schoolchildren

Abstract

Background Low levels of physical fitness are associated with metabolic disorders in adults. However, this relationship has been little explored in children and adolescents. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether there is an association between physical fitness related to health and the presence of metabolic risk in schoolchildren. Methods The sample for this cross-sectional study was composed of 1251 schoolchildren of both genders between 7 and 17 years of age. Three indicators of physical fitness related to health were evaluated: cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), flexibility and abdominal resistance. The continuous metabolic syndrome score (cMetS) was calculated by using the sum of the Z scores of the following indicators: body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, glucose, total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c and LDL-c) and triglycerides. Subsequently, the cMetS was dichotomized, considering the presence or absence of metabolic risk. The data were analyzed using prevalence ratio (PR) values and 95% confidence intervals (CI), using Poisson regression. Results A higher prevalence of metabolic risk was found among students with low levels of CRF (PR: 1.48; CI: 1.10–1.98) and abdominal resistance (PR: 1.45; CI: 1.08–1.95). No association with flexibility was found. Conclusions Low levels of CRF and abdominal resistance are associated with the presence of metabolic risk in schoolchildren.

Higher Cardiorespiratory Fitness Levels May Attenuate the Detrimental Association between Weight Status, Metabolic Phenotype and C-Reactive Protein in Adolescents—A Multi-Cohort Study

“…Similarly, previously epidemiologic studies have shown that youths with low body fat and low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) were at high cardiovascular risk than those with high body fat and adequate CRF [8,9]. Excessive body fat and low CRF are associated with a list of severe diseases, including metabolic disorders [10,11], independently of weight status or dietary intake [12]; however, it is not entirely clear if the interrelationships among CRF, body composition and low-grade inflammation in adolescents are independent or partly due to the mediating effect of excessive adiposity, since the current literature is limited and/or equivocal [13,14]. Moreover, the effects of CRF combined with body composition on subclinical inflammation during the adolescence are unclear.…”

Prevalence of Brazilian children and adolescents who met health criteria for aerobic fitness: systematic review update for Report Card Brazil Project

“…The characteristics of the 13 studies included in the review are shown in Table 1. Seven studies were carried out in the southern region, with three studies in the state of Paraná 20,29,31 , two studies in Santa Catarina 19,22 and two studies in Rio Grande do Sul 26,30 . Four studies 23,25,27,28 were carried out in the northeastern region (Piauí, Bahia, Ceará and Paraíba, respectively), one study 21 was carried out in the northern region (Amazonas) and one study 24 was carried out considering all regions of the country (Northern, Northeastern, Midwestern, Southeastern and Southern).…”

“…The evaluated population covered the age group of 3-19 years. Eleven studies had cross-sectional design [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]29,30 , one study had longitudinal design 19 and one was an intervention study 28 (Table 1).…”

“…For males, the prevalence of adequate aerobic fitness ranged from 14.7% 23 to 85.8% 20 , which resulted in total prevalence, considering all studies, of 19.6%. For females, the prevalence of children and adolescents with adequate aerobic fitness ranged from 2.7% 26 to 45.3% 30 , which resulted in total prevalence (considering all studies) of 30.7% (Table 2).…”

“…Studies verified the aerobic fitness of children and / or adolescents through different tests: 6-minute walk / run test 21,26,27 , 9-minute walk / run test, Mcaft test 19,22,24,30,31 , 20-meter shuttle-run test 20,23,29 and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test 28 . Different cutoff points were found in literature, and the cutoff point most widely used was proposed by PROESP-BR31.…”