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The first aim was to explore the difference in metabolic flexibility between sexes in response to changing exercise intensity under control conditions. The second aim was to evaluate metabolic flexibility between sexes in response to exercise intensity adding two different metabolically challenging stimuli (glycogen depletion and heat). Eleven males (22 ± 3 years, 176.2 ± 4 cm, 68.4 ± 4.9 kg, and 60.2 ± 4.1 mL/kg FFM/min) and nine females (22 ± 2 years, 166.7 ± 4.5 cm, 61.9 ± 2.9 kg, and 64.2 ± 5.6 mL/kg FFM/min) performed a maximal incremental exercise test (30 W every 3 min) on a cycle ergometer under three conditions: control (24 h high-carbohydrate diet followed by the incremental test), glycogen depletion (glycogen-depletion protocol followed by 24 h low-carbohydrate diet and then the incremental test), and heat (24 h high-carbohydrate diet followed by 30 min passive heating and then the incremental test in heat). In the last minute of each step, lactate was analysed, fat (FATox/FFM) and carbohydrate oxidation (CHox/FFM), and energy expenditure (EE/FFM) normalized to fat-free mass (FFM) was estimated by indirect calorimetry. Females presented a greater FATox/FFM as exercise intensity increases across conditions (control, glycogen depletion, and heat) ( p  = 0.006). In contrast, CHox/FFM was not significantly different between sexes at any specific intensity across conditions ( p  > 0.05). Consequently, EE/FFM was higher in females throughout the different intensities across conditions ( p  = 0.002). Finally, lactate concentration was not different between sexes at the same intensities across conditions ( p  = 0.87). In conclusion, females present a greater metabolic flexibility, due to the higher FATox/FFM throughout the different intensities, regardless of whether the test is performed in conditions emphasizing the oxidative pathway (glycogen depletion) or the glycolytic pathway (heat). Clinical trials: NCT05703100., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests.

It is unknown whether changes in lactate concentration produced by different situations (e.g., glycogen depletion or heat) modify fat oxidation. If confirmed, we could determine a dose-response relationship between lactate and fat. The aim of this study was to determine whether changes in lactate concentration (due to glycogen depletion or heat) alter fat oxidation during exercise. 11 males and eight females performed an incremental exercise test under three situations: control, glycogen depletion, and heat. At rest, in the last minute of each step and immediately post-exhaustion, lactate was analyzed and fat oxidation was estimated by indirect calorimetry. Lactate concentration was inversely associated with fat oxidation in the three aforementioned situations (r > 0.88 and p < 0.05). The highest lactate concentration was found in the heat situation, followed by the control situation, and finally the glycogen depletion situation (all p < 0.05). The opposite was found for fat oxidation, with the highest fat oxidation found in the glycogen depletion situation, followed by the control situation, and finally the heat situation (all p < 0.05). There is no association between the changes in lactate concentration between situations at each intensity and the changes in fat oxidation between situations at each intensity in males or females (p > 0.05). In conclusion, lactatemia is strongly and inversely associated with fat oxidation under the three different situations. Furthermore, the lowest lactate concentrations were accompanied by the highest fat oxidations in the glycogen depletion situation, whereas the highest lactate concentrations were accompanied by the lowest fat oxidations in the heat situation., (© 2024 The Author(s). European Journal of Sport Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH on behalf of European College of Sport Science.)

Purpose: To investigate differences between females and males at lactate thresholds 1 (LT1) and 2 (LT2)., Methods: Twenty-four female and twenty male participants performed an incremental cycle-ergometer test until exhaustion, where LT1 and LT2 were determined in each volunteer., Results: Power output at LT1 and LT2 was lower in females than in males (P < .001). In addition, power output relative to peak power was higher in females at LT1 and LT2 (P < .001). However, heart rate was higher in females than males at LT1 and LT2 (P = .008). Furthermore, the heart rate relative to maximal heart rate was higher in females compared with males at LT1 and LT2 (P = .002)., Conclusion: Females and males may be in a different metabolic situation at the same percentage of maximum. This study helps to reduce sex bias in science, and future guidelines should consider establishing exercise prescription recommendations according to sex., Clinical Trial: NCT06104150.

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of endurance training (E), strength training (S), or combined training (SE), along with caloric restriction diet, compared to only diet and physical activity recommendations (C, control), on the quality of life in individuals with obesity. One hundred and twenty obese participants (61 males), aged 18-50 years, were randomly assigned to the different experimental groups, with ninety-six completing the study. The intervention period spanned 22 weeks (3 times per week). All subjects followed a hypocaloric diet, and quality of life was assessed using the SF36 questionnaire before and after the training program. A significant improvement was observed in emotional role following the S (Baseline: 85.06 ± 30.32; Post: 96.00 ± 11.06; p = 0.030) and SE (Baseline: 76.67 ± 35.18; Post: 91.30 ± 22.96; p = 0.010) programs, but not after E (Baseline: 83.33 ± 29.40; Post: 78.26 ± 35.69; p = 0.318) and C (Baseline: 77.01 ± 34.62; Post: 79.37 ± 37.23; p = 0.516). No significant main effect was observed in any other outcome measured. Overall, all groups demonstrated improvements in quality-of-life outcomes. In conclusion, any physical exercise intervention combined with caloric restriction, physical activity recommendations, and nutritional habits resulted in an enhancement of quality of life., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this study was to analyse the load-velocity and load-power relationships of the decline bench press exercise (DBPE) and to compare sex-related differences. Twelve young healthy men and women performed a progressive loading test for the determination of 1RM strength and individual load-velocity and load-power relationship in the DBPE. A very close relationship between mean propulsive velocity (MPV) and %1RM was observed ( R 2  = 0.94). This relationship improved when plotting data separately by sex ( R 2  = 0.96-97). Individual load-velocity profiles gave an R 2  = 0.99 ± 0.01. The relationship between mean propulsive power (MPP) and %1RM was R 2  = 0.23. When separating data by sex, R 2  = 0.64-73 were obtained. Individual load-power profiles gave an R 2 of 0.93 ± 0.07. Significant sex-related differences were found for MPV, with males having faster velocities than females from 30% to 40% 1RM ( p  = 0.01) and for MPP, with males having greater MPP (W) than females from 30% to 95% 1RM ( p  < 0.001). The results of this study show that a strong correlation exists between relative load and MPV/MPP in the DBPE, allowing the possibility of using one to predict the other with great precision, especially when a sex-specific equation is used.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a classroom-based physical activity program, using bike desks, on academic and physical performance in adolescents. The Program to Enhance and Develop Active Lessons (PEDAL) was designed for this purpose, expecting an increase in students' physical activity without any decrease in academic performance. This intervention based on pedal or bike desks-stationary bikes that integrate with a desk workspace-was conducted with 55 high- school students who were randomly assigned to two groups: a PEDAL group ( n = 28, 14.86 ± 0.65 years old, 46.4% girls) and a control group ( n = 27, 15 ± 0.68 years old, 51.9% girls). Throughout the intervention, the PEDAL students pedaled 4 days a week for 10 weeks during their Spanish-language arts lessons. The comparisons between the PEDAL group and the control group, as well as the pre- and post-test results, were statistically analyzed to verify the students' physical activity (i.e., IPAQ-SF, heart rate monitors, polar OH1 + ), cardiorespiratory capacity (20 m shuttle run test), and academic performance (d2 test of attention and language proficiency test). Regarding the physical aspect, only the PEDAL group showed significant growth in their physical activity levels as compared to the pre-test data ( p = 0.001), and they achieved higher results compared with the control group ( p = 0.022) and less sedentary time than control students ( p = 0.012). Concerning cardiorespiratory fitness, there were no post-test differences between the two groups ( p = 0.697), probably because the physical activity performed with the bike desks was light-moderate. As far as academic performance is concerned, no significant post-test effects were discovered in either group on the levels of language competence ( p = 0.48), attention (TOT, p = 0.432), and concentration (CON, p = 0.216). In conclusion, adolescents who move while learning, using bike desks, increase their light and moderate physical activity without any detriment to academic performance.

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of physical activity level on postural control in obese and overweight Spanish adult males. Forty-three males aged between 25 and 60 years old were included. Anthropometric, body composition, and physical activity variables were assessed, and postural control was evaluated using the Sensory Organization Test. No correlation was found between the level of physical activity and postural control, assessed by the Sensory Organization Test within the whole sample. However, within the group with a higher total fat mass percentage, non-sedentary individuals presented improved scores on the somatosensory organization test when compared to sedentary individuals (96.9 ± 1.8 vs. 95.4 ± 1.2; p < 0.05) and poorer scores on the composite equilibrium score (73.4 ± 7.2 vs. 79.2 ± 6.9; p < 0.05). The altered integration of somatosensory inputs most likely affects the tuning, sequencing, and execution of balance strategies in sedentary men with a high total fat mass percentage.

Introduction: Background: predicting weight loss outcomes from information collected from subjects before they start a weight management program is an objective strongly pursued by scientists who study energy balance. Objective: to develop and validate two prognostic models for the estimation of final body weight after a six-month intervention period. Material and methods: the present work was developed following the TRIPOD standard to report prognostic multivariable prediction models. A multivariable linear regression analysis was applied to 70 % of participants to identify the most relevant variables and develop the best prognostic model for body weight estimation. Then, 30 % of the remaining sample was used to validate the model. The study involved a 6-month intervention based on 25-30 % caloric restriction and exercise. A total of 239 volunteers who had participated in the PRONAF study, aged 18 to 50 years, with overweight or obesity (body mass index: 25-34.9 kg/m2), were enrolled. Body composition was estimated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and by hand-to-foot bioelectrical impedance (BIA) analysis. Results: prognostic models were developed and validated with a high correlation (0.954 and 0.951 for DXA and BIA, respectively), with the paired t-tests showing no significant differences between estimated and measured body weights. The mean difference, standard error, and 95 % confidence interval of the DXA model were 0.067 ± 0.547 (-1.036-1.170), and those of the BIA model were -0.105 ± 0.511 (-1.134-0.924). Conclusions: the models developed in this work make it possible to calculate the final BW of any participant engaged in an intervention like the one employed in this study based only on baseline body composition variables.

Introduction: balance is very important in order to perform daily physical activities as standing or walking. Both physical activity and body composition are some of the most important adjustable intrinsic factors influencing balance., Objective: to analyze the influence of physical activity level and different body variables on the postural control of male adults., Methods: observational, cross-sectional study with 63 men between 25 and 60 years of age, with body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 35 kg/ m2. Anthropometric variables (e.g., weight, BMI, waist circumference), body composition and its distribution (e.g., percentage of total fat mass: TFM%, of the legs: LFM%, and android: AFM%), physical activity (PAL) and postural control (e.g., SOM ratio) were measured. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship of all variables with the SOM ratio., Results: the results of this study show a correlation between TFM% (r = -0.384, p = 0.002), AFM% (r = -0.421, p = 0.001) and PAL (r = 0.291, p = 0.021) with the SOM ratio. In addition, individuals classified as obese (TFM% ≥ 28) scored worse on SOM ratio than non-obese individuals (97.33 ± 2.52 vs 96.37 ± 1.54, p = 0.013), and individuals classified as active (PAL ≥ 1.4) scored higher on SOM ratio than sedentary individuals (97.13 ± 2.33 vs 96.18 ± 1.38; p = 0.035)., Conclusions: the fat mass and PAL seem to influence proprioceptively on postural control, being the waist circumference the variable that predicts SOM ratio the most.

Background: apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphism is a genetic determinant of lipid and lipoprotein levels and the risk for coronary heart disease., Objective: to evaluate the impact of ApoE2allele in lipid plasma levels and the influence of a healthy hypocaloric diet plus a controlled physical activity on the lipid profile, we performed a study in a cohort of overweight and obese healthy subjects (Body Mass Index (BMI) between 25 and 34.9 kg·m-2)., Methods: one hundred eighty participants (96 women), aged 18-50 years participated in a 22 weeks weight loss intervention based on same dietary treatment and different controlled exercise programs. All subjects followed a hypocaloric diet (25-30% less energy intake than the daily energy expenditure). Blood samples were obtained for lipids measurements at the beginning and end of the study., Results: after intervention, men of the E2 group showed the greatest decreases in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) values (p = 0.039; p = 0.001; p = 0.001; respectively). For high-density lipoprotein (HDL), E2 group had significant differences compared with E4 at pre- (p = 0.020) and post-intervention values (p = 0.024)., Conclusion: our results show great changes in men carrying ApoE2, mainly in TG and TC concentrations after treatment with hypocaloric diet and controlled exercise. Therefore, adding supervised training to nutritional intervention seems to be a good alternative for the reinforcement of the effect of the treatment.