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Background: While there is evidence that physical activity, sedentary behaviour (SB) and sleep may all be associated with modified levels of inflammatory markers in adolescents and children, associations with one movement behaviour have not always been adjusted for other movement behaviours, and few studies have considered all movement behaviours in the 24-hour day as an exposure., Purpose: The aim of the study was to explore how longitudinal reallocations of time between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), SB and sleep are associated with changes in inflammatory markers in children and adolescents., Methods: A total of 296 children/adolescents participated in a prospective cohort study with a 3-year follow-up. MVPA, LPA and SB were assessed by accelerometers. Sleep duration was assessed using the Health Behavior in School-aged Children questionnaire. Longitudinal compositional regression models were used to explore how reallocations of time between movement behaviours are associated with changes in inflammatory markers., Results: Reallocations of time from SB to sleep were associated with increases in C3 levels (difference for 60 min/d reallocation [d 60 ] = 5.29 mg/dl; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.28, 10.29) and TNF-α (d 60  = 1.81 mg/dl; 95% CI = 0.79, 15.41) levels. Reallocations from LPA to sleep were also associated with increases in C3 levels (d 60  = 8.10 mg/dl; 95% CI = 0.79, 15.41). Reallocations from LPA to any of the remaining time-use components were associated with increases in C4 levels (d 60 ranging from 2.54 to 3.63 mg/dl; p < 0.05), while any reallocation of time away from MVPA was associated with unfavourable changes in leptin (d 60 ranging from 3088.44 to 3448.07 pg/ml; p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Reallocations of time between 24-h movement behaviours are prospectively associated with some inflammatory markers. Reallocating time away from LPA appears to be most consistently unfavourably associated with inflammatory markers. Given that higher levels of inflammation during childhood and adolescence are associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases in adulthood, children and adolescents should be encouraged to maintain or increase the level of LPA to preserve a healthy immune system., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The health-transitions humans have delivered during the 20th Century associated with the nutrition is that from undernutrition to obesity, which perseveres in the current years of the 21st Century. Energy intake (EI) is a contributing factor and therefore a fascination in nutritional sciences. However, energy expenditure (EE) has not been usually considered as a conjoint factor. Thus, this study aimed to review if studies on adults consider data on dietary intake, specifically EI, and included data on EE and physical activity (PA). A search of MEDLINE from 1975 to December 2015 was managed. Our scoping review consisted of keywords related to EI, dietary allowances, and nutritional requirements. From 2229 acknowledged articles, 698 articles were finally taken fulfilling inclusion and quality criteria. A total of 2,081,824 adults (53.7% females) were involved, and most studies had been conducted in EEUU (241), Canada (42), Australia (30), Japan (32), and Brazil (14). In Europe, apart from UK (64), the Netherlands (31) and France (26) led the classification, followed by Sweden (18), Denmark (17), and France (26). Mediterranean countries are represented with 27 studies. A total of 76.4% did not include EE and 93.1% did not include PA. Only 23.6% of the studies contained both EI and EE. A large methodological diversity was perceived, with more than 14 different methods regarding EI, and more than 10 for EE. PA was only analyzed in scarce articles, and scarcely considered for interpretation of data and conclusions. Moreover, PA was often measured by subjective questionnaires. Dietary surveys show a large diversity regarding methodology, which makes comparability of studies difficult. EE and PA are missing in around 80% of studies or are not included in the interpretation of results. Conclusions regarding EI or diet adequacy in adults should not be taken without analyzing EE and PA.

Background and Aims: The extent to which physical fitness (PF) attenuates or modifies the association between physical activity (PA) and clustered metabolic syndrome risk factors (CMetSRF) is controversial. We aimed: i) To examine the independent and combined association of objectively measured PA and PF with CMetSRF in children and adolescents; ii) To test the mediating effect of PF in the association of PA with CMetSRF., Methods and Results: A total of 226 children and 256 adolescents participated. Levels of PA (light, moderate, vigorous and moderate-to-vigorous [MVPA]) and PF were measured by accelerometry and ALPHA battery, respectively. Cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness values were combined in a global PF variable. A CMetSRF was computed by assessing the following variables: waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose. In children, the highest vigorous PA (β = -0.193; P = 0.003) and MVPA (β = -0.149; P = 0.025) were individually associated with lower CMetSRF, but these associations were not independent of global PF. In adolescents, the association of moderate (β = -0.123; P = 0.046) and MVPA (β = -0.147; P = 0.024) with CMetSRF was independent of PF. Among unfit adolescents, the higher time they spent in MVPA the lower CMetSRF levels were found (P = 0.032)., Conclusions: The results are suggestive of a full mediation of global PF in the association of MVPA and vigorous PA with CMetSRF in children. In adolescents, the association of higher moderate and MVPA with lower CMetSRF was independent of levels of PF, and mediation analyses suggest only a partial mediation of global PF in the association of MVPA with CMetSRF., (Copyright © 2016 The Italian Society of Diabetology, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition, and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We examined the association of physical activity (PA), cardiovascular fitness (CVF) and fatness with total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations in European adolescents. The present study comprised 713 European adolescents aged 14.8 ± 1.2 y (females 55.3%) from the multicenter HELENA cross-sectional study. PA was assessed through accelerometry, CVF by the 20-m shuttle run test, and body fat by skinfold thicknesses with the Slaughter equation. Plasma folate, cobalamin, and tHcy concentrations were measured. To examine the association of tHcy with PA, CVF, and fatness after controlling for a set of confounders including age, maturity, folate, cobalamin, creatinine, smoking, supplement use, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 genotype (CC 47%, CT 43%, TT 10%), bivariate correlations followed by multiple regression models were performed. In the bivariate correlation analysis, tHcy concentrations were slightly negatively correlated (p<0.05) with CVF in females (measured both by stages: r=-0.118 and by VO2max: r=-0.102) and positively with body mass index (r=0.100). However, daily time spent with moderate and vigorous PA showed a weak positive association with tHcy in females (p<0.05). tHcy concentrations showed a tendency to decrease with increasing CVF and increase with increasing BMI in female European adolescents. However, tHcy concentrations were positively associated with moderate and vigorous PA in female European adolescents.

Background: The morning recess period during school days represents a regular opportunity to accumulate physical activity (PA). However, little is known about the contribution of recess to PA guidelines (60 min/day in moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA]) in adolescents., Methods: This study comprised 1065 Spanish adolescents (52% girls), aged 13 to 16 years. Adolescents completed a validated Recess PA Recall in 2007-2008. Differences in levels of PA during the recess period were analyzed by gender, age group, type of school, school location, immigrant status, weight status, fitness levels and snack eating during recess., Results: Adolescent boys spent more time in MVPA (7.7 vs. 6.4 min in MVPA, P = .009) and were more active (29.6% vs. 24.5% in MVPA, P = .007) than girls during the recess period. Adolescent boys in the youngest age group and with the school located in cities were more active than their peers (all P < .05). There were no differences in levels of PA during recess by all the descriptive characteristics in adolescent girls (all P > .05)., Conclusions: These findings suggest that recess in Spanish high schools may contribute to the daily recommended MVPA for adolescents, but greater efforts must be implemented to increase PA levels among adolescent girls during this school period.

Unlabelled: What is already known about this subject Eating disorders are among the public health issues facing adolescents. An excess of body fat has been associated with an increased risk of these disorders. The association of physical fitness with eating disorders has not yet been analysed in adolescents. What this study adds This study confirms that the overweight and obesity increase the risk of developing eating disorders. The present study shows that there is an inverse association between physical fitness levels and the risk of eating disorders. This study suggests that physical fitness might attenuate the influence of overweight on the development of eating disorders in adolescents., Background: Eating disorders together with the overweight and obesity are important health concerns in adolescents., Objective: To analyse the individual and combined influence of overweight and physical fitness on the risk of developing eating disorders in Spanish adolescents., Methods: The sample consisted of 3571 adolescents (1864 females), aged 13 to 18.5 years, from Spain who participated in the AVENA and AFINOS studies. The risk of eating disorders was evaluated using the SCOFF questionnaire. Body mass index was calculated and the adolescents were classified into two groups: overweight (including obesity) and non-overweight according to Cole's cut-off points. Cardiorespiratory fitness in the AVENA Study was assessed by the 20-m shuttle-run test and the overall physical fitness level was self-reported in the AFINOS Study., Results: Overweight adolescents had a higher risk of developing eating disorders than non-overweight adolescents (odds ratio [OR] = 4.91, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.63-6.61 in the AVENA Study and OR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.83-3.22 in the AFINOS Study). Also, adolescents with medium and low levels of physical fitness had a higher risk of developing eating disorders (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.05-2.16, and OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.60-3.19, respectively, in the AVENA Study, and OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.37-2.17, and OR = 4.11 95% CI: 2.98-5.65, respectively, in the AFINOS Study) than adolescents with high levels of physical fitness. In both studies, the combined influence of overweight and physical fitness showed that adolescents with lower levels of physical fitness had an increased risk of developing eating disorders in both non-overweight and overweight groups., Conclusions: Physical fitness might attenuate the influence of overweight on the development of eating disorders in adolescents., (© 2013 The Authors. Pediatric Obesity © 2013 International Association for the Study of Obesity.)

The aim of this report was to examine the associations between some characteristics (i.e., structure and number) of extracurricular physical activity (EPA) and cognitive performance in adolescents. A total of 1662 adolescents (880 girls; 13.0-18.5 years) from 5 Spanish cities (Granada, Madrid, Murcia, Santander and Zaragoza) were included in this study. Structure (organised and non-organised) and number of EPAs, and participation at vigorous intensity during EPA were self-reported. Cognitive performance (verbal, numeric and reasoning abilities, and an overall score) was measured with the "SRA-Test of Educational Ability". Results showed that vigorous EPA was positively associated with all cognitive variables. Adolescents who practiced an organised EPA had higher scores in 3 of the 4 cognitive variables than those who practiced a non-organised EPA (all P < 0.05). Likewise, the group who participated in more than one EPA had higher cognitive performance in all variables than the group who participated in only one EPA (all P < 0.05). Regardless of potential confounder variables, including vigorous EPA, both structure and number of EPAs were each other independently associated with cognitive performance. Therefore, structure and number of EPAs may positively influence cognitive performance in adolescents. Participating in multiple, organised EPA may have benefits for cognitive performance.

Objective: To examine the associations between active commuting to school and cognitive performance in adolescents., Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting: Five cities (Granada, Madrid, Murcia, Santander, and Zaragoza) in Spain., Participants: A total of 1700 adolescents (892 girls) aged 13 to 18.5 years., Main Exposures: Mode and duration of transportation to school and participation in extracurricular physical activity were self-reported., Main Outcome Measures: Cognitive performance (verbal, numeric, and reasoning abilities and an overall score) was measured by the Spanish version of the SRA Test of Educational Ability., Results: Active commuting to school was associated with better cognitive performance (all P < .05) in girls but not in boys, independent of potential confounders including participation in extracurricular physical activity. In addition, adolescent girls who spent more than 15 minutes actively commuting to school had better scores in 3 of the 4 cognitive performance variables (all P < .05) than those who spent less time actively commuting to school (≤15 minutes) as well as better scores in all of the cognitive performance variables (all P < .001) than girls inactively commuting., Conclusion: Active commuting to school and its duration may positively influence cognitive performance in adolescent girls.

Objective: To evaluate the convergent validity of the PAQ-A for assessing physical activity (PA) in overweight (including obese) adolescents., Material and Method: Two hundred and three Spanish adolescents (96 females), aged 13-17 years, were selected for this study. Levels of PA were self-reported by 3-day activity diary, activity rating and PAQ-A. Adolescents wore the ActiGraph accelerometer for 7 days. Overweight was classified according to International Obesity Task Force age- and sex-specific body mass index cut offs., Results: Fifty-four (33 male and 21 female) adolescents (27%) were classified as overweight or obese. The PAQ-A was moderately related in the overweight adolescent group to an activity rating (ρ=0.52), total PA and moderate-to-vigorous PA assessed by activity monitor (ρ=0.52 and 0.43) and total PA and moderate-to-vigorous PA assessed by activity diary (ρ=0.32 and 0.47). There were no significant differences in the correlation coefficients between non-overweight and overweight adolescents., Conclusion: The PAQ-A shows a reasonable validity for assessing PA in Spanish overweight adolescents., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)

Background: Prior studies addressing the impacts of regular physical activity or sedentary habits on the immune system have been conducted in adults and laboratory settings. Thus, it is practically unknown how a healthy active lifestyle could affect low-grade inflammation processes, infections or allergies in young persons. The AFINOS Study was designed to determine the relationship between the regular physical activity levels of adolescents and overweight, infection, and allergies along with the presence of metabolic and immunological biomarkers of a deteriorated health status. A further objective of the AFINOS Study is to assess the health status and lifestyle habits of an adolescent population in an effort to identify any protective factors that could be used as preventive measures, since many chronic diseases and their associated co-morbidities often persist from adolescence into adulthood., Methods/design: This study was conducted as three separate sub-studies in three different populations as follows: (a) Study 1 was performed on a population sample of adolescents; (b) Study 2 on the adolescents' parents; and (c) Study 3 on a subset of the adolescents from Study 1. Study 1 assessed health and lifestyle indicators through a questionnaire administered to a representative sample of adolescents from the Madrid Region (n = 2400) aged 13 to 16 years. In Study 2, the parents of the teenagers participating in Study 1 were required to fill out a questionnaire. Finally in Study 3, body composition, physical activity, health-related physical fitness, and blood measurements were determined in a subset (n = 200) of the individuals included in Study 1., Discussion: This paper describes the rationale, design, and methodologies used in the AFINOS Study. This multidisciplinary, multicenter study seeks to evaluate several aspects of existing relationships between routine physical activity/sedentary behaviour and several health status markers, specifically those related to the immune system. The results of this cross-sectional study will serve for comparisons with the available data obtained in laboratory settings and in adults. In addition, knowledge regarding the health status and lifestyle habits of Spanish adolescents and their parents will be useful for designing preventive measures.

This study was aimed to evaluate the possible changes caused by a single bout of moderate-intensity exercise in a hot environmental temperature on the immune function and on inflammatory markers. A total of 22 young male adults (VO2(max), 55.4 +/- 3.6 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) volunteered to participate in an exercise session of 60 minutes on a treadmill ergometer at moderate speed (60% of the maximum aerobic speed) in hot environmental conditions (35 degrees C and humidity 60%). Total leukocyte numbers, lymphocyte subsets (CD8+, CD4+, CD3+, NK and CD19+), cytokine production capacity by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha) as well as the concentration of several inflammation related proteins (ceruloplasmin, C-reactive protein (CRP), complement factors C3 and C4) were evaluated before and after exercise. The results show that leukocyte and neutrophil absolute values increased (P < 0.001) after the exercise period. In contrast, eosinophil values decreased (P < 0.05) after the exercise. In addition, ceruloplasmin, C3 and C4 values (P < 0.05) increased after exercise. No changes in T lymphocyte subsets, cytokine production, or CRP were observed. These data confirm previous studies suggesting that a 60 min exercise in a hot environment is enough to cause a physiologic adaptation to these special conditions leading to an increase of non-specific immune cells and promoting inflammatory processes. On the other hand, PCR values, lymphocyte subsets and the capacity of cytokine production by PBMC were not changed in a relatively short bout of exercise under these conditions in contrast with previous studies.