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There is evidence that promoting school physical activity (PSPA) benefits children and adolescents, but little is understood about how this promotion may relate to academic achievement and school climate across varying levels of socioeconomic status (SES). Hence, the study aimed to address this knowledge gap by examining two main objectives: (1) determining the association between PSPA and academic achievement and school climate according to schools' SES and (2) exploring the potential mediating role of PSPA in the relationship between schools' SES and academic achievement and school climate. This cross-sectional study at the school level focused on 4,990 schools (including public, subsidized, and private schools) that participated in the National Educational Study 2018 (Chile), which was applied to primary schoolchildren (4th grade, aged 8-10 years). Schools were divided into non-PSPA ( n  = 4,280) and PSPA ( n  = 710) during the year 2018. Changes in academic achievement from 2017 to 2018 and school climate were considered. PSPA was associated with improvements in maths (low-SES OR: 1.80, p  < 0.001) and reading (middle-SES OR: 1.45, p  = 0.029; low-SES OR: 1.47, p  < 0.001). The indirect effect (IE) showed that PSPA partially mediated the relationship between SES and academic achievement in reading (IE = 1.017; SE = 0.12; 95%CI, -1.27, -0.77), maths (IE = -1.019; SE = 0.12; 95%CI, -1.25, -0.78), and school climate (IE = -0.46; SE = 0.52; 95%CI, -0.56, -0.35). In conclusion, PSPA was linked to positive changes in academic achievement, especially among low SES, and PSPA presented a potential mediating role in the relationship between SES of schools and academic achievement and school climate., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Delgado-Floody, Cristi-Montero, Jerez-Mayorga, Ruiz-Ariza, Guzmán-Guzmán, Álvarez, Gómez-López, Carter-Thuillier and Caamaño-Navarrete.)

The purpose of this cross-cultural study was to determine the association between the sociodemographic background of a child's parents (i.e., their socioeconomic level, marital status, and educational level) with the child's lifestyle (i.e., Mediterranean diet (MD), physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST)), and health markers. Material: This cross-sectional study included 1273 children, from Chile ( n = 496), Colombia ( n = 340), and Spain ( n = 437). The sociodemographic information together with the lifestyle and health markers of the children were measured. There was an inverse association between a low or medium-low socioeconomic level for the parents of Chilean children and handgrip strength (β -0.61, p < 0.001); meanwhile, for Spanish children, an inverse association between a low or medium-low socioeconomic level and PA after school (β -0.58, p = 0.016), lifestyle (β -0.74, p = 0.015), and with MD adherence (β -0.86, p = 0.004) was found. The risk (i.e., by odd ratios (OR)) of being divorced/separated parents marital status showed an inverse association with abdominal obesity (OR 0.21, p = 0.045) in Spanish children; however, the parent's marital status and a low educational level were risk factors for the suffering of a low nutritional level in Colombian children (OR 2.02, p = 0.048; OR 2.49, p < 0.001, respectively). On the other hand, a low educational level for parents reported for Chilean children had a positive association with ST of ≥4 h per day (OR 1.82, p = 0.020). In conclusion, in Spanish-speaking children, the lifestyle and health markers of the children are affected by the sociodemographic background of their parents; however, these effects could be moderated by the socio-cultural and economic status of their countries as members of the OCDE; therefore, it is essential to develop policies that decrease these gaps, so that children who are under-resourced can reach their full potential.

Background: The objective of this study was to establish the reliability of the Humon Hex near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) in determining muscle oxygen saturation (SmO 2 ) and hemoglobin concentration (Hgb) at rest and during isometric and dynamic strength exercises using a functional electromechanical dynamometer (FEMD)., Methods: The SmO 2 and Hgb values of sixteen healthy adults (mean ± standard deviation (SD): Age = 36.1 ± 6.4 years) were recorded at rest and during isometry (8 s), dynamic strength I (initial load of 40% of the average isometric load, with 2 kg increments until muscle failure) and dynamic strength II (same as I, but with an initial load of 40% of the maximum isometric load) activity. To evaluate the reliability in the determination of SmO 2 and Hgb of this device, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM) and coefficient of variation (CV) were obtained., Results: The main results obtained are SmO 2 at rest (CV = 5.76%, SEM = 3.81, ICC = 0.90), isometric strength (CV = 3.03%, SEM = 2.08, ICC = 0.92), dynamic strength I (CV = 10.6, SEM = 7.17, ICC = 0.22) and dynamic strength II (CV = 9.69, SEM = 6.75, ICC = 0.32); Hgb at rest (CV = 1.97%, SEM = 0.24, ICC = 0.65), isometric strength (CV = 0.98%, SEM = 0.12, ICC = 0.96), dynamic strength I (CV = 3.25, SEM = 0.40, ICC = 0.54) and dynamic strength II (CV = 2.74, SEM = 0.34, ICC = 0.65)., Conclusions: The study shows that Humon Hex is a reliable device to obtain SmO 2 and Hgb data in healthy adult subjects at rest and during isometric strength, providing precision for measurements made with this device.

Introduction: Background: feelings and behaviours are an important tool that should be considered to prevent early unhealthy lifestyles. Objective: the objective was to determine the association between feelings (i.e., sadness, loneliness, and school behaviour) with lifestyle (i.e., physical activity patterns and nutritional level), and as secondary endpoint to determine the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and lifestyle with obesity and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors in Latin American schoolchildren. Methods: this cross-sectional study included a sample of 634 schoolchildren (girls, n = 282, 11.86 ± 0.82 years, and boys, n = 352, 12.02 ± 0.87 years) from publics schools in Chile. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), body fat (BF), lifestyle, nutritional level, HRQoL, and CMR (i.e., WtHR > 0.5) were evaluated. Results: schoolchildren who have felt sadness and loneliness presented an association with low nutritional level (OR: 4.26, 95 % CI: 2.0-9.0, p < 0.001, and OR: 4.47, 95 % CI: 2.5-7.9, p < 0.001, respectively), bad lifestyle (OR: 2.14, 95 % CI: 1.0-4.54, p = 0.048, and OR: 1.78, 95 % CI: 1.01-3.1, p = 0.045, respectively), and obesity (OR: 2.0, 95 % CI; 0.89-4.54, p = 0.09, and OR: 2.05, 95 % CI; 1.04-4.0, p = 0.037, respectively). Schoolchildren who have had enough time for themselves reported an association with bad lifestyle (OR: 0.69, 95 % CI: 0.47-1.02, p = 0.06), and those who have could not pay attention presented the highest association with bad lifestyle (OR: 4.64, 95 % CI: 72-12.56, p = 0.002). Conclusion: Latin American schoolchildren who have felt sadness and loneliness reported unhealthy lifestyles (i.e., lower nutritional level, increased screen time, and low physical activity), obesity, and thus a higher CMR burden.

The association between the changes in lifestyle during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) confinement and body weight have not been studied deeply. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and physical activity (PA) patterns, caused by confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyze its association with changes in body weight. Seven hundred participants (women, n = 528 and men, n = 172) aged between 18-62 years old of the Chilean national territory participated in the study. Food habits, PA, body weight, and sociodemographic variables were measured through a survey in May and June 2020. The body weight increase presented positive association with the consumption of fried foods ≥ 3 times per week (OR; 3.36, p < 0.001), low water consumption (OR; 1.58, p = 0.03), and sedentary time ≥6 h/day (OR; 1.85, p = 0.01). Conversely, fish consumed (OR; 0.67, p = 0.03), active breaks (OR; 0.72, p = 0.04), and PA ≥ 4 times per week (OR; 0.51, p = 0.001) presented an inverse association with body weight increase. Daily alcohol consumption (OR; 4.77, p = 0.003) was associated with PA decrease. Food habits, PA, and active breaks may be protective factors for weight increase during COVID-19 confinement.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association between Mediterranean diet adherence, physical activity (PA) patterns (i.e., screen time and PA after school), and weight status with the cardiovascular response following a cardiorespiratory fitness test., Methods: Participants were 605 school children: 272 girls (11.79 ± 0.93 y old) and 333 boys (12.06 ± 1.03 y old). Body mass index, waist circumference (WC), food habits, and PA patterns were evaluated. Heart rate (HR), and systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures were assessed before and immediately after the 20-m shuttle run test and the changes induced were calculated (Δ = post/pretest)., Results: The cardiovascular response was higher in obese than normal weight and overweight children in terms of HR (P = 0.007) and SBP (P < 0.001). The ΔSBP presented inverse association with WC (β = -0.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.17 to -0.01; P = 0.026), food habits (β = -0.65; 95% CI, -0.81 to -0.49; P < 0.001), PA after school (β = -7.03; 95% CI, -7.84 to -6.22; P < 0.001) and PA patterns (β = -5.96; 95% CI, -6.40 to -5.52, P < 0.001). ΔDBP was not associated with food habits or PA patterns (P > 0.005). Finally, ΔHR reported inverse association with PA patterns (β = -1.67; 95% CI, -3.18 to -0.17; P = 0.029)., Conclusion: School children with obesity showed a higher cardiovascular response in HR and SBP than normal weight and overweight peers. Moreover, the increment of the SBP presented inverse association with food habits and PA patterns., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Background: the relationship between physical activity (PA) patterns and mental health in children is receiving considerable attention. Aims: the aim of this study was to compare psychological well-being in groups of schoolchildren according to PA patterns and weight status, and to determinate the association between psychological well-being and both screen time and PA after school. Material and methods: in a cross-sectional sample of girls (n = 272, aged 11.93 ± 0.94 years) and boys (n = 333, aged 12.09 ± 1.00 years), we assessed body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and body fat. Self-esteem, body image dissatisfaction, depression, screen time, and after-school PA were also included. Results: according to PA patterns, there were significant differences between good PA and bad PA groups in self-esteem (p = 0.013) and depression (p = 0.035). BMI was associated with depression (β: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.53; p < 0.001). Screen time was positively associated with depression (β: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.32, 1.44; p = 0.002) and inversely associated with self-esteem (β: -1.12; 95% CI: -1.79, -0.45; p < 0.001). Finally, after-school PA had an inverse association with depression levels (β: -0.55; 95% CI: 0.10, 1.00; p = 0.016). Conclusion: psychological well-being was associated with screen time, after-school PA and weight status in schoolchildren.

Introduction: Background: obesity and lower physical fitness levels in children are related to the development of cardiometabolic risk factors. Objective: to determine the relationship between health-related physical fitness and physical activity levels, blood pressure, and anthropometric parameters for different weight statuses of Chilean schoolchildren. Material and methods: the participants were 272 girls and 333 boys having a mean age of 12.00 ± 1.23 years. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), standing long jump test (SLJ), handgrip strength, physical activity (PA) levels, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and body fat (BF) were measured. To establish the relationship between the variables, partial correlations adjusted by sex were carried out and the Chi-square test was applied to compare the proportions between groups. Results: VO2max (p < 0.001) was higher in schoolchildren of normal weight. SBP and DBP were higher in obese schoolchildren (p < 0.001). Physical fitness was inversely related to SBP: VO2max (r = -0.26, p < 0.001), SLJ (r = -0.11, p = 0.007) and handgrip strength (r = -0.10, p = 0.021), and had a positive relationship with PA: VO2max (r = 0.31, p < 0.001), SLJ (r = 0.18, p < 0.001), and handgrip strength (r = 0.26, p < 0.001). Moreover, VO2max and SLJ were inversely related to BMI and WC (p < 0.05). The group of obese schoolchildren contained the highest percentage of individuals with hypertension (p < 0.001). Conclusion: the results obtained in this study show that physical fi tness has an inverse relationship with SBP and a positive relationship with PA levels. Besides, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and SLJ are inversely associated with the predictors of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Finally, obese children presented lower physical fitness and included a higher proportion of individuals with hypertension.

Background: to examine relations between functional movement patterns and weight status in Spanish primary school children and to determine the differences between sexes., Methods: three hundred and thirty-three, 6-13 years old children (164 boys and 169 girls), participated in this study. The main outcome measures were the body mass index (BMI) and the Functional Movement Screen™ (FMS). Children were classified as normal weight (NW), overweight (OV) or obese (OB) according to international cut-offs., Results: total FMS score was negatively correlated with BMI (p < 0.001). FMS score was different between children from NW, OV and OB groups (p = 0.001), lower with the increased BMI (p < 0.001 between all groups). Significant differences (p < 0.05) between NW, OV and OB were found in deep squat, hurdle step, in-line lunge, shoulder mobility, straight leg-raise and push-up tests. As for the sex differences, girls obtained higher scores (p < 0.05) in in-line lunge, shoulder mobility and straight leg-raise, whereas boys did it in push-up (p = 0.044) test., Conclusions: these results confirm that total FMS score significantly and inversely correlates with BMI in a group of 333 school-age children. As for the sex differences, girls outperform boys in movements requiring flexibility and balance, whilst boys outperform girls in tests where muscular strength is required.

Introducción: bajos niveles de actividad física, moderada y vigorosa, son un factor de riesgo conductual importante en la obesidad en niños.Objetivo: el objetivo del estudio fue determinar el estado nutricional y la condición física de escolares, comparando los resultados obtenidos por género, obesidad y rendimiento físico.Material y métodos:578 escolares: 308 hombres de 11,22 ± 1,93 años y 270 mujeres de 10,93 ± 1,92 años participaron en la investigación. Fueron evaluados: índice de masa corporal (IMC), porcentaje de masa grasa (%MG), contorno de cintura (CC), razón cintura-estatura (RCE) y rendimiento físico según los test del Estudio Nacional de Educación Física de la Agencia de Calidad de la Educación de Chile.Resultados: el %MG fue mayor en la mujeres (p < 0,001). En el test de abdominales y en el de Navette el rendimiento fue mayor en los hombres, y en el test de flexo-extensiones de brazo el rendimiento fue mayor en las mujeres (p < 0,05). Los escolares en categoría de obeso presentaron inferiores resultados en los test de: abdominales, salto largo, flexo-extensiones de brazo y Navette (p < 0,001). El VO2MAX fue menor en los sujetos con obesidad (p < 0,001). Los estudiantes que necesitan mejorar 3 o 4 test presentan mayor RCE (p < 0,001) y %MG (p < 0,001). Existe una asociación negativa entre la RCE y el VO2MAX (-0,543, p < 0,001).Conclusiones: existe una elevada prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad. Además, se aprecia un bajo rendimiento físico asociado a esta condición. Los escolares que necesitan mejorar 3 o 4 test de la condición física presentan mayores promedios de %MG y RCE; esta última variable es un potente indicador de riesgo cardiovascular.

Antecedentes: la prevalencia de obesidad infantil ha aumentado considerablemente en Chile y el mundo, presentando asociación negativa con el rendimiento físico. Objetivo: el propósito del estudio fue determinar el rendimiento físico en escolares y asociarlos a los niveles de sobrepeso, obesidad y riesgo cardiometabólico.Material y métodos: 342 escolares, entre 11 y 16 años de edad, participaron del estudio, un 44,2% correspondió a mujeres y un 55,8% a hombres. Se evaluaron las siguientes variables: peso, índice de masa corporal, porcentaje de masa grasa, contorno cintura, razón cintura estatura, Test de salto largo, Test de abdominales, Test de flexo-extensiones de brazo, Test de Cafra y Test de Navette.Resultados: s e observó que los escolares con sobrepeso y obesidad (48,3%) mostraron un incremento significativo en las medidas antropométricas, así como una disminución en todas las variables que determinan rendimiento físico. En el análisis de los Test de Cafra y Navette, se observó que la presencia de la alteración de al menos uno de ellos se asoció con riesgo cardiometabólico (OR= 9,29, p<0,001), mientras que la presencia de la alteración de los dos test se asocia fuertemente con la presencia de sobrepeso y obesidad (OR = 11,8, p = 0,003) y con riesgo cardiometabólico (OR = 30, 1, p<0,001).Conclusión: Los escolares con obesidad presentaron disminución en todas las variables que determinaron el rendimiento físico y fue la alteración capacidad cardiorrespiratoria medida a través de los Test de Cafra y Navette los que presentaron mayor asociación y significativa con el sobrepeso, obesidad y riesgo cardiometabólico.

Introduction: for the morbid obesity the bariatric surgery is effective, but to major preoperative weight it might increase morbidity and mortality, for such a motive it is necessary to implement programs that improve this condition., Objective: to determine the effects of a program of physical exercise interval on the anthropometric profile of the morbidly obese and obese with comorbidities candidates to bariatric surgery., Material and Methods: three men and twenty-five women between 18 and 60 years old candidates to bariatric surgery, with morbid obesity (n = 16) or obese and comorbidities (type-II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance) (n = 12), they were subjected to a program of physical exercise with interval overload of three months duration (36 sessions). Before and 72 hours after the last intervention session was evaluated on fasting (≥ 12 hours): body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist contour (WC) and contour hip., Results: the average age corresponds to 36.96 years, prior to intervention the weight had an average of 102.66 ± 15.96 kg, BMI of 40.84 ± 4.94, the WC 114.22 ± 10.35 cm and the contour hip 126.84 ± 10.65 cm. After twelve weeks of intervention showed significant decreases in weight variables (p = 0.000), BMI (p = 0.001), WC (p = 0.000) and hip contour (0.000)., Conclusions: twelve weeks of interval exercise improved preoperative anthropometric conditions, without presenting risks in health and with high adherence to the program, which is why it may be recommended for this type of treatment., (Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)