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To verify the role of the combination of fitness and fatness in the relationship between physical activity (PA) and cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents. This is a cross-sectional study performed with 2786 children and adolescents (6 to 17 years). Fitness was determined by the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) six-minute walking and running test. Waist circumference (WC) was considered a fatness indicator. A selfreported questionnaire was used to determine PA practice, whereas the clustered cardiometabolic risk score (cMetS) was calculated by summing z-scores of triglycerides, total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio, systolic blood pressure, glucose, and WC. Considering the combination of CRF (fitness) and WC (fatness), the following phenotypes were created: Fit/Unfat, Fit/Fat, Unfit/Unfat and Unfit/Fat. Moderation analyses were tested using linear regression models. Significant interactions were found between PA and Unfit/Fat category (β = -0.001; p = 0.001) only for adolescents. The interaction observed in the Unfit/Fat phenotype indicated that adolescents who practise PA for 330 minutes per week presented lower cMetS compared to those who do not practise or practise for 60 minutes respectively. The combination of fitness and fatness moderates the relationship between PA and cardiometabolic risk, suggesting that adolescents, particularly those who are less fit and present high adiposity, should be encouraged to engage in regular PA to improve their metabolic health., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © Biology of Sport 2024.)

The human locus FNDC5 rs16835198 contributes positively to anthropometric phenotypes in children and adolescents. However, the role of specific components of physical fitness in this relationship is not known. The present study aimed to verify the moderator role of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular strength in the relationship between rs16835198 polymorphism FNDC5 and adiposity in children and adolescents. This cross-sectional study was carried out by genotyping the rs16835198 FNDC5 polymorphism in 1701 children and adolescents (mean age 11.73 ± 2.75 years). Obesity was assessed using waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) z-scores. To evaluate CRF and muscular strength, the 6 min run/walk test and lower limb strength (LLS) were used. Linear regression models were applied, and all analyses were adjusted for age, sex, skin color, living area, and school type. A significant interaction term for CRF ( p = 0.038) and LLS ( p = 0.040) × rs16835198 FNDC5 with WC was identified. Regarding BMI, a significant interaction term for CRF ( p = 0.007) and LLS ( p = 0.044) × rs16835198 FNDC5 was observed. Moreover, medium and high CRF and LLS levels protected against higher WC and BMI. In conclusion, adiposity levels of children and adolescents with a genetic predisposition to obesity might be modified by improving CRF and muscular strength.

Information regarding urban-rural differences in health indicators are scarce in Brazil. This study sought to identify rural-urban differences in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) in Brazilian children and adolescents whilst controlling for the important confounding variables including social economic status (SES). This is a cross-sectional study developed with children and adolescents (n = 2250, age 11.54 ± 2.76) selected from a city in the south of Brazil. CRF was estimated using a 6-minute run/walk test. CMR scores were calculated by summing different cardiometabolic risk indicators. CRF was analysed assuming a multiplicative model with allometric body-size components. CMR differences in residential locations was assessed using Analysis of caovariance (ANCOVA) adopting SES, Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), age and fitness as covariates. Results indicated a main effect of location ( p < 0.001) with children living a rural environment having the highest CRF, and children living in the periphery of towns having the lowest. Analysis also revealed significant main effects of location ( p < 0.001) with children living a rural environment having the lowest CMR and children living in the centre of towns having the highest. Therefore, Brazilian children living in a rural environment appear to have superior health benefits.

Background: Rural Brazil is known for its history of poor working and living conditions; in some regions the population becomes vulnerable to health and work problems., Objective: To investigate the association between health vulnerability and environmental factors among rural workers., Method: Descriptive study which consisted in a narrative review of literature published from 2012 to 2017. The literature search was conducted in databases Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) using Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) "health," "vulnerability," "rural population" and "rural worker health.", Results: Six studies were retrieved which mainly associated health vulnerability to inadequate or no use of specifically required personal protective equipment, in addition to pointing out actions essential for health promotion, such as adequate diet and leisure time, physical activity, dignified working conditions, and social contacts., Conclusion: Rural work environmental factors are directly related with health vulnerability. Prevention of exposure to risk of disease and health promotion actions are essential to minimize health problems, especially the ones associated with exposure to agrochemicals.