Metabolic risk factors, physical activity and physical fitness in azorean adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundThe prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased over the last few decades in adolescents and has become an important health challenge worldwide. This study analyzed the relationships between metabolic risk factors (MRF) and physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) in a sample of Azorean adolescents.MethodsA cross-sectional school-based study was conducted on 417 adolescents (243 girls) aged 15-18 from the Azorean Islands, Portugal. Height, weight, waist circumference, fasting glucose, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure were measured. A sum of MRF was computed, and adolescents were classified into three groups: no MRF, one MRF and two or more MRF. PA was assessed by a sealed pedometer. PF was assessed using five tests from the Fitnessgram Test Battery. Dietary intake was obtained using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.ResultsMean daily steps for girls and boys were 7427 ± 2725 and 7916 ± 3936, respectively. Fifty-nine percent of the adolescents showed at least one MRF and 57.6% were under the healthy zone in the 20 m Shuttle Run Test. Ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for sex, body mass index, socio-economic status and adherence to a Mediterranean diet, adolescents who were in the highest quartile of the pedometer step/counts (≥9423 steps/day) and those who achieved the healthy zone in five tests were less likely to have one or more MRF (OR = 0.56;95%CI:0.33-0.95; OR = 0.55;95%CI:0.31-0.98, respectively).ConclusionsDaily step counts and PF levels were negatively associated with having one or more MRF among Azorean adolescents. Our findings emphasize the importance of promoting and increasing regular PA and PF to reduce the public health burden of chronic diseases associated with a sedentary lifestyle.

Association between cardiorespiratory fitness and body fat in girls

“…The proportion of adolescents in this study with low cardiorespiratory fitness may be a reflection of lower cardiorespiratory fitness levels observed worldwide. These data are alarming considering the exposure of young individuals to cardiovascular risk factors during adolescence7 and adulthood 8…”

“…The low level of cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome in young individuals,7 as well as to increased cardiovascular risk in adulthood 8. A meta-analysis showed that the overall risk of death from all causes or from cardiovascular disease was two-fold higher in individuals with low cardiorespiratory fitness levels, compared to those with high levels 8.…”

Aptidão física relacionada à saúde de escolares: programa fitnessgram

“…Moreover, epidemiological studies have shown decrease of at least 50% in the mortality indices amongst subjects with high scores of physical fitness compared to the ones less physically fit 7 . Specifically in young populations, higher physical fitness scores are associated with lower prevalence of risk factors which lead to cardiovascular diseases, reduction in total and abdominal adiposity as well as better bone and mental health condition [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] . Furthermore, scores of health-related physical fitness components are more straightly related to metabolic risks than habitual physical activity practice levels in youngsters at school age 8,11,14 .…”

“…Specifically in young populations, higher physical fitness scores are associated with lower prevalence of risk factors which lead to cardiovascular diseases, reduction in total and abdominal adiposity as well as better bone and mental health condition [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] . Furthermore, scores of health-related physical fitness components are more straightly related to metabolic risks than habitual physical activity practice levels in youngsters at school age 8,11,14 . Although many studies trying to describe health-related physical fitness of young populations of other countries have been found [15][16][17][18][19] , in Brazil these data are scarcer.…”

“…Consequently, contrary to what is observed concerning the flexibility, muscular strength and endurance neuromuscular components, the data which ground the proposition of the criteria for cardiorespiratory endurance should be considered more accessible and therefore more reliable. Moreover, the importance of the component for cardiorespiratory endurance as an indicator for physical fitness for better health status becomes evident as studies have presented the straight inverse correlation between the estimated values for maximal oxygen consumption and the onset and development of countless risk factors for chronic-degenerative diseases 8,10,[12][13][14]37 .…”