Search

Objectives: Despite the health importance of identifying correlates of physical fitness in youth, no investigation to date has explored the influence of behavioral, health-related, and contextual correlates simultaneously. We investigated the hierarchical relationship of multiple modifiable correlates favoring or diminishing cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in youth., Design: Cross-sectional investigation., Methods: In a sample of 5174 children and adolescents, 31 correlates were hierarchized according to their impact on cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness assessed using the FITESCOLA® fitness battery. A Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection approach was employed and measures of correlation and association were used to investigate the relationship between physical fitness and correlates., Results: In children, body mass index was the most relevant factor to discriminate between high and low cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness of the upper, middle, and lower body. While body mass index was more important than any other correlate to differentiate levels of upper and lower body muscular fitness during adolescence, specific characteristics of sports participation emerged as key factors to discriminate between high and low cardiorespiratory fitness and middle body muscular fitness. Other correlates, including the self-report of active recess time, active commuting to school, favorable neighborhood conditions, and limited time on screens and cellphones, were demonstrative of favorable physical fitness levels., Conclusions: Both body composition and sports-related characteristics emerged as the two most relevant factors of physical fitness in youth. Additional health benefits may be obtained from building supportive environments for sports and healthy exercise habits within the household and at different school education levels., Competing Interests: Declaration of interest statement The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Maintaining a healthy aging process is vital to combating and delaying the adverse health outcomes faced by the growing older adult population, where a key aspect to achieving healthy aging is the preservation of functional fitness. This study aims to present trends on the functional fitness of Portuguese older adults between 2008 and 2018 and build new normative reference standards for the Senior Fitness Battery Tests., Design: Cross-sectional study., Methods: Functional fitness was measured with the Senior Fitness Battery Tests in two national representative cohorts of the Portuguese older adult population (≥65 years) using the 2008 (n = 4712) and 2018 (n = 2717) surveys. Changes were assessed according to sex and age group. Sex and age-group normative fitness scores were developed., Results: Overall findings suggested that older adults' point prevalence for arm-curl, 8-ft up-and-go, and 30-s chair sit-to-stand remained stable between 2008 and 2018, with declining trends being observed for the 6-min walk and back-scratch tests. However, results for trends varied when stratified by sex and age categories., Conclusions: Our results suggest a trend toward a stabilization of most of the functional fitness tests over the past decade, but with a critical decline in the 6-min walk test. Thus, this test should be targeted by future health-care policies. Moreover, this investigation provides new and updated normative reference standards for the Senior Fitness Battery Tests that should be used as a tool to promote a healthy aging process among Portuguese older adults., Competing Interests: Declaration of interest statement None., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

This investigation aimed to describe the current physical fitness (PF) status of Portuguese youth, compare secular trends from 2008 and 2018, and establish updated age- and sex-specific percentile values for distinct PF tests. In 2008 and 2018, 22 048 and 8960 children and adolescents (10-18 years) were included in two national cross-sectional investigations. PF was evaluated using the FITESCOLA® battery tests and the handgrip strength test. Independent sample t-tests and chi-squared tests were used to model the results. Weight smoothed percentile values were calculated using Cole's Lambda-Mu-Sigma (LMS) method. All analyses were weighted according to age, sex, and geographic region. In 2018, boys surpassed girls in the 20-m shuttle run, curl-ups, push-ups, standing long, and vertical jump tests, while girls performed better in the sit-and-reach (p < 0.05). The percentage of boys and girls meeting the healthy zone in the 20-min shuttle run test did not differ between 2008 and 2018 (p ≥ 0.05). In boys, a higher percentage fell in the healthy zone for the curl-up and push-up tests in 2018 compared to 2008 (85.8% vs. 83.4%, and 57.8% vs. 53.8%; p < 0.05). Girls improved their flexibility component (sit-and-reach test), with a higher percentage meeting the healthy zone in 2018 (32.6% vs. 36.9%; p < 0.05); an opposite trend was seen for boys (65.5% vs. 50.1%; p < 0.05). The present investigation provides new and updated PF percentile curves for Portuguese youth, which can be used as a general overview of the current PF state among the Portuguese young population., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

We aimed to assess if the relationship between VPA and bone health is simultaneously mediated by PF and fat mass in adolescents. Bone health was assessed by quantitative ultrasound (QUS) in 412 participants (221 girls) aged 10-18 years. VPA was assessed by accelerometry and PF was measured using specific protocols from FITescola®. Fat mass (%) was assessed using two skinfolds (triceps and calf). Parallel mediation analysis was performed by Hayes' PROCESS (V.3.3-model 4) for SPSS. We observed that in boys, handgrip mediated the associations of VPA with speed of sound on the third distal radius (R-SoS). While, speed at 20 m and handgrip mediated the relationship of VPA with speed of sound on the tibial midshaft (T-SoS). Body fat (%) only acted as a mediator when handgrip integrates the mediation model. For girls, the only mediating variable for the relationship between VPA and R-SoS or T-SoS was the PACER test. Handgrip, speed and fat mass (%) in boys, and cardiorespiratory fitness in girls mediates the relationships between VPA and bone health assessed by QUS. Promoting muscular fitness and cardiorespiratory fitness and decrease of fat mass through VPA in adolescents may be an important strategy to improve bone health.

Background: Physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) are crucial for bone health. However, children participating in competitive sports with high PA are at a greater risk of fracture from trauma or overuse. Given the importance of bone development during adolescence, associations between commonly used physical fitness tests with distal third radius (R-SoS) and midshaft tibia (T-SoS) speed of sound by quantitative ultrasound were assessed in adolescent athletes and nonathletes., Hypothesis: The relationship between physical fitness tests and R-SoS and T-SoS will differ depending on sex and athletic status., Study Design: Cross-sectional study., Level of Evidence: Level 3., Methods: Physical fitness of 285 boys (156 athletes) and 311 girls (74 athletes) aged 10 to 18 years was assessed through strength, speed, agility, and cardiorespiratory tests. Linear regression was used to assess the associations of physical fitness tests with R-SoS and T-SoS., Results: For boys, favorable associations were observed between physical fitness tests with R-SoS in athletes and T-SoS in both athletes and nonathletes ( P < 0.05). For nonathlete girls, favorable associations were found for handgrip (R-SoS and T-SoS, both P < 0.05), whereas the progressive aerobic cardiovascular endurance run, vertical jump, speed at 20 m and 40 m were only favorably associated with T-SoS. For athlete girls, the association between handgrip ( P = 0.03), vertical jump, and 4 × 10 m shuttle run ( P < 0.05) with T-SoS was significantly related to a bone outcome., Conclusion: The handgrip test and vertical jump were associated with T-SoS in boys and girls independent of sport status. These results suggest that physical fitness is associated with bone health in adolescents, particularly boys, and that the relationship between physical fitness and bone may differ depending on sex and athletic status., Clinical Relevance: Physical fitness tests are simple, easy-to-use tools for monitoring bone health and should be used by sport and health professsionals to promote healthy sport participation and prevent bone injuries.

Monitoring physical fitness in young athletes is essential to improve physical performance, identify talents and develop injury prevention programs. The aim of this investigation was to analyse the reliability of the physical fitness tests from the FITescola ® battery in young athletes with different sports backgrounds and competition levels. Participants comprised of 138 young athletes (boys n = 92) aged 9 and 18 years old. Eight physical fitness tests assessing six components of physical fitness were performed: cardiorespiratory fitness (PACER); upper body muscular fitness (push-up); flexibility (sit and reach); lower-body muscular fitness (horizontal and vertical jump); agility (4 × 10 shuttle run); and speed (sprint at 20 m and 40 m). Each test was performed twice, with a one-week interval (7 days) between duplicate tests. No differences between duplicate tests were found (p > .05), except for the speed at 20 m in boys (p < .001) and speed at 40 m in girls (p = .006). The battery of tests had good or excellent reliability and concordance of the ICC between the two trials (ICC ≥ 0.75) with exception for the 20 m speed run in girls that presented moderate reliability (ICC = 0.57). The Bland-Altman plots showed high reliability for all the fitness tests for both sexes. Hence, The FITescola ® battery may be a novel tool to assess the physical fitness of large groups of young athletes from different sports backgrounds., (© 2020 Scandinavian Society of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Strong evidence indicates that moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is positively associated with fitness in youth, independent of total sedentary-time. Sedentary-time appears negatively associated with fitness only when it replaces MVPA. However, whether different sedentary-patterns affect health-related fitness is unknown., Methods: The associations between MVPA and sedentary-patterns with physical fitness were examined in 2698 youths (1262 boys) aged 13.4 ± 2.28 years. Sedentary-time (counts · minute -1  < 100) and PA were objectively measured by accelerometry. Each break (≥100 counts · min -1  < 2295) in sedentary-time and the frequency of daily bouts in non-prolonged (<30 min) and prolonged (≥30 min) sedentary-time were determined. The FITNESSGRAM® test battery was used to assess fitness. A standardized fitness composite-score (z-score) was calculated by summing the individual z-scores of the five tests adjusted to age and sex., Results: Positive associations between MVPA and fitness were observed in both boys (β = 0.013, 95% CI: 0.005; 0.021) and girls (β = 0.014, 95% CI: 0.006; 0.022), independent of sedentary-patterns. Modest associations were found for the breaks in sedentary-time with fitness (β = 0.026, 95% CI: 0.009; 0.042), independent of total sedentary-time and MVPA in boys. In girls, non-prolonged sedentary bouts were positively associated with fitness (β = 0.014, 95% CI: 0.003; 0.024), independent of total sedentary-time and MVPA., Conclusions: These results reinforce that, independent of the time and patterns of sedentary behavior, MVPA is consistently associated with fitness in youth. Modest and inconsistent associations were found for sedentary behaviors. Breaking-up sedentary-time in boys and non-prolonged sedentary bouts in girls were positively associated with fitness, independent of total sedentary-time and MVPA. In order to enhance youth's fitness, public health recommendations should primarily target MVPA, still, suggestion to reduce and break-up sedentary-time may also be considered.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the associations between objectively measured physical activity (PA), sedentary time, and health-related fitness and to investigate the combined association of PA and sedentary time on health-related fitness in youths., Methods: PA and sedentary time were assessed with accelerometers in 2506 youths age 10-18 yr (M(age) = 13.2 ± 2.3). Participants were classified as active (≥60 min·d(-1) of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)) versus inactive (<60 min·d(-1) of MVPA) and as "low sedentary" versus "high sedentary" (according to the median value of sedentary time per day) and thereafter grouped as active/low sedentary, active/high sedentary, inactive/low sedentary, and inactive/high sedentary. Five physical fitness tests (body mass index, push-ups, curl-ups, sit and reach, and the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run test) were assessed with FITNESSGRAM, and participants were categorized as being in the healthy fitness zone (HFZ) versus the unhealthy fitness zone. A fitness composite score was calculated using the individual fitness test z-score. Regression models were used to examine the relation between PA, sedentary time, and physical fitness., Results: Time spent in MVPA (min·d(-1)) (β = 0.002, P < 0.001) was significantly associated with fitness score independent of sedentary time. Sedentary time was not associated with physical fitness independent of MVPA. Compared with the inactive/high sedentary group (referent), being categorized as active/low sedentary was associated with increased likelihood of being in the HFZ for sit and reach (odds ratio, 2.55; 95% confidence interval, 1.96-3.32) and having a higher fitness composite score (odds ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.69)., Conclusions: Time in MVPA was associated with better physical fitness independent of sedentary time. Participants classified as active/low sedentary had higher odds of being in the HFZ, for flexibility, and to have a better fitness composite score. These findings suggest that time in MVPA contributes to better physical fitness in youths.

Objectives: The aim of the current study was to develop sex and age-adjusted criterion-referenced fitness standards to predict independent physical functioning into later life., Design: Cross-sectional., Setting: National Survey of Physical Fitness and Physical Activity, Portugal., Participants: A national representative sample of 3074 non-institutionalized older adults (65-84years)., Measurements: Projected capacity for physical independence was assessed by the Composite Physical Function (CPF) scale, and physical fitness was assessed using the Senior Fitness Test battery. ROC analyses were used to evaluate the classification accuracy of physical fitness components, and determine the best cutoff values of functional fitness to predict loss of independence. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression was used to identify sex and age category fitness components that were predictors of independence with follow-up ROC analysis to verify the model's discriminative capability., Results: ROC curve analysis showed that the fitness tests were good in diagnosing physical independence (AUC>0.7). Logistic regression models demonstrated that different fitness components should be targeted according to age and sex, but with an emphasis on aerobic endurance and agility/dynamic balance. Overall, models provided higher AUC (males: 0.79-0.86; females: 0.73-0.85) when comparing the best fitness tests for each sex and age category. The sensitivity of newly developed models ranged from 80.5 to 87.7 in males and from 68.2 to 86.3 in females, while the specificity ranged from 62.1 to 73.8 in males and between 58.2 and 82.9 in females., Conclusion: The Senior Fitness Test provides a good field tool that allows the identification of fitness levels that older adults need to achieve to be physically independent later in life, and permits the accurate planning and implementation of exercise-based interventions for older adults., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In addition to the benefits on physical and mental health, cardiorespiratory fitness has shown to have positive effects on cognition. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and body weight status on academic performance among seventh-grade students., Methods: Participants included 1531 grade 7 students (787 male, 744 female), ranging in age from 12 to 14 years (Mage = 12.3 ± 0.60), from 3 different cohorts. Academic performance was measured using the marks students had, at the end of their academic year, in mathematics, language (Portuguese), foreign language (English), and sciences. To assess cardiorespiratory fitness the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run, from Fitnessgram, was used as the test battery. The relationship between academic achievement and the independent and combined association of cardiorespiratory fitness/weight status was analysed, using multinomial logistic regression., Results: Cardiorespiratory fitness and weight status were independently related with academic achievement. Fit students, compared with unfit students had significantly higher odds for having high academic achievement (OR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.48-3.55, p < 0.001). Likewise, having a normal weight status was also related with high academic achievement (OR = 3.65, 95% CI: 1.82-7.34, p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Cardiorespiratory fitness and weight status were independently and combined related to academic achievement in seventh-grade students independent of the different cohorts, providing further support that aerobically fit and normal weight students are more likely to have better performance at school regardless of the year that they were born.

This cross-sectional study was designed to develop normative functional fitness standards for the Portuguese older adults, to analyze age and gender patterns of decline, to compare the fitness level of Portuguese older adults with that of older adults in other countries, and to evaluate the fitness level of Portuguese older adults relative to recently published criterion fitness standards associated with maintaining physical independence. A sample of 4,712 independent-living older adults, age 65-103 yr, was evaluated using the Senior Fitness Test battery. Age-group normative fitness scores are reported for the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles. Results indicate that both women and men experience age-related losses in all components of functional fitness, with their rate of decline being greater than that observed in other populations, a trend which may cause Portuguese older adults to be at greater risk for loss of independence in later years. These newly established normative standards make it possible to assess individual fitness level and provide a basis for implementing population-wide health strategies to counteract early loss of independence.

The last decades of life have been traditionally viewed as a time of inevitable disease and frailty. Sedentary living and physical activity may influence capacity to perform activities that are needed to maintain physical independence in daily living. A total of 117 males and 195 females, aged 65-103years, were assessed for physical activity and sedentary time with accelerometers and for functional fitness with the Senior Fitness Test battery. Based on the individual scores for each fitness item, a Z-score was created. Associations between functional fitness with sedentary time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were analyzed. A negative association was found between the composite Z-score for functional fitness and the sedentary time, even adjusting for MVPA and other confounders. On the other hand, MVPA was positively associated with the composite Z-score for functional fitness, independently of the sedentary time. In conclusion elderly who spend more time in physical activity or less time in sedentary behaviors exhibit improved functional fitness and other confounders. The results reinforce the importance of promoting both the reduction of sedentary behaviors and the increase of MVPA in this age group, as it may interfere at older ages in order to preserve functional fitness and performance of daily functioning tasks., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Several variables, such as waist circumference (WC) and trunk skinfolds (TS), are indicators of body fat. There is interest in evaluating the effect of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) measures on changes in these markers from childhood to adolescence., Purpose: To examine CRF as a potential predictor of changes in body fat over an 8-year follow-up period in a pediatric population., Methods: A cohort study of 86 children (44 girls, 42 boys) with a mean age of 9.8 ± 0.3 years who participated in the Portuguese arm of the European Youth Heart Study in 2000 completed a follow-up evaluation in 2008 at a mean age of 17.0 ± 0.4 years. Cardiorespiratory fitness, expressed as maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) (mL·kg(-1)·min(-1)), was assessed during an incremental multistage bicycle test to exhaustion. Physical activity (PA) was objectively measured by accelerometry at both periods of evaluation. Fat mass (FM) was assessed using anthropometric models, sum of TS, and WC. Changes were expressed as a percentage of the baseline value. Comparison of means and linear regression analysis were used for data analysis., Results: While CRF significantly increased among boys (P < 0.05) and decreased in girls (P < 0.01), the percentage of body fat decreased over time in boys (P < 0.01) and increased among girls. Alone, CRF explained 39%, 26%, and 25% of the total variance in WC, FM, and TS, respectively (P < 0.01). Adjusting for PA, sex, and maturation changes, CRF remained a significant predictor of WC (β = -0.335; P < 0.01), FM (β = -2.084; P < 0.01), and TS (β = -1.500; P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Changes in CRF are a significant predictor of changes in body fat percentage from childhood to adolescence. School-based PA interventions are encouraged to maintain or improve CRF from childhood and throughout adolescence to prevent increased percentages of body fat, particularly in the abdominal region.

It is not yet known whether regional bioelectrical impedance (BIA) phase angle (PhA) may be informative of different types of strength performed by the lower and upper limbs, independently of lean soft tissue mass (LSTM). Using a sample of healthy adults, we aimed to examine the association and relevance of regional PhA relative to isometric and isokinetic strength of each limb. A total of 57 participants (32.7 ± 12.9 years; 24.7 ± 3.5 kg/m2) were included in the present investigation. Regional raw BIA variables were determined using a phase-sensitive BIA device. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to evaluate LSTM. Absolute isometric and isokinetic (i.e., 60°/s and 180°/s) strength of each limb (extension and flexion) was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer and used to calculate relative strength. In absolute strength, only dominant leg PhA was associated with isometric extension strength (β = 0.283) and isokinetic 180°/s flexion strength (β = 0.354), regardless of LSTM (p < 0.05). In relative strength, a significant association of regional PhA was found for dominant arm flexion isometric strength (β = 0.336), and non-dominant arm and dominant leg extension isometric strength (β = 0.377, β = 0.565, respectively; p < 0.05), independently of LSTM. Similarly, for isokinetic 180°/s strength, regional PhA significantly explained the variance in the relative strength of both arms and dominant leg (β = 0.350 to 0.506), regardless of LSTM (p < 0.05). Relative isokinetic 60°/s strength was not consistently associated with regional PhA (p ≥ 0.05). Regional PhA significantly explained relative (isometric and 180°/s isokinetic strength of both arms and dominant leg), but not absolute muscle strength, independently of regional LSTM. Thus, after accounting for body size, regional PhA seems to have its own characteristics that explain relative strength independently of LSTM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review aimed to analyze the effects of different exercise protocols on physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and body composition), quality of life, cancer-related fatigue, and sleep quality in patients with different types of cancer undergoing neoadjuvant treatment. Systematic review. A comprehensive search of existing literature was carried out using four electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library (published until October 19, 2022). All databases were searched for randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental investigations, and pre-post investigations assessing the effects of exercise in cancer patients during neoadjuvant treatment. Excluded articles included multicomponent interventions, such as exercise plus diet or behavioral therapy, and investigations performed during adjuvant treatment or survivorship. The methodological quality of each study was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Twenty-seven trials involving 999 cancer patients were included in this review. The interventions were conducted in cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant treatment for rectal (n = 11), breast (n = 5), pancreatic (n = 4), esophageal (n = 3), gastro-esophageal (n = 2), and prostate (n = 1) cancers, and leukemia (n = 1). Among the investigations included, 14 utilized combined exercise protocols, 11 utilized aerobic exercise, and two utilized both aerobic and resistance training separately. Exercise interventions appeared to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, body composition, and quality of life, although many investigations lacked a between-group analysis. Despite limited evidence, exercise interventions applied during neoadjuvant treatment demonstrate promising potential in enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, body composition, and overall quality of life. However, a scarcity of evidence remains on the effects of exercise on cancer-related fatigue and sleep quality. Further research with high-quality randomized controlled trials is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging process reflects, in many cases, not only a decline in physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF), but also an increase in overall levels of sedentary time (ST). In order to hierarchically identify the most powerful correlates related to low and high levels of objectively assessed PA, ST, and PF during the late adulthood, a total of 2666 older adults were cross-sectionally evaluated. Multidimensional correlates were obtained through interview. Using chi-squared automatic detection analysis to identify the cluster of correlates with most impact on PA (<21.4 min/day), ST (≥8 h/day), and PF (<33.3th percentile), was found that the most likely subgroup to be physically inactive consisted of widowers not owning a computer and sport facilities in the neighbourhood (94.7%), while not being widowed, reporting to have a family that exercises and a computer at home (54.3%) represented the subgroup less likely to be inactive. Widowers without sidewalks in the neighbourhood were the most sedentary group (91.0%), while being a married woman and reporting to have space to exercise at home (40%) formed the most favourable group of correlates regarding ST. Men reporting a financial income <500€ and physical problems frequently formed the group with the lowest PF level (70.3%). In contrast, the less likely subgroup to have low levels of PF level consisted of having a financial income ≥1000€ and a computer at home (3.4%). Future interventions should target widowers with limited accessibility to computer and urban/sport-related infrastructures, as well as impaired older adults with low financial income. Highlights Chi-squared automatic interaction detection was used to identify and hierarchise correlates of objectively measured physical activity, sedentary time, and fitness. Widowers not having a computer at home and sport facilities in the neighbourhood were the most likely to be physically inactive, while not being widowed, having a family that exercises and a computer at home represented the subgroup less likely to be physically inactive. The most likely to be classified as sedentary were widowers without sidewalks in the neighbourhood, while the most favourable group of correlates regarding ST was formed by married women and reporting to have space to exercise at home. Individuals with a low financial income and physical problems comprised the population subgroup with the lowest PF levels, while having a medium-high financial income and a computer at home represented the less likely subgroup to have low levels of PF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of three resistance exercise orders on muscular strength, body composition, and functional fitness in trained older women. Forty-five women (aged ≥60 years), after performing 12 weeks of a pre-conditioning resistance-training program were randomly assigned in one of the following groups that performed the exercises in the following orders: multi-joint to single-joint order (MJ-SJ, n=15), single-joint to multi-joint order (SJ-MJ, n=15), and alternating between upper and lower body order (ALT, n=15). Specific training intervention lasted 12 weeks (3x/week) and was composed of eight exercises performed in three sets of 15/10/5 repetitions, with increasing load through the sets. Muscular strength was estimated by one-repetition maximum tests; body composition was assessed by whole-body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and functional fitness was analyzed with a sequence of four motor tests. All groups improved similarly in muscular strength (Cohen's effect size: MJ-SJ=0.45; SJ-MJ=0.48; ALT=0.45), skeletal muscle mass (MJ-SJ=0.08; SJ-MJ=0.07; ALT=0.09), and functional test performance (MJ-SJ=0.38; SJ-MJ=0.20; ALT=0.31), but no change was observed for body fat (P >0.05). The results suggest that 12 weeks of resistance training induce positive changes in muscle morphofunctionality, regardless of the exercise order employed in trained older women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This article aimed to systematically review the contribution of physical education (PE) classes to improve cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in children and adolescents; and to define potentially relevant factors for promoting CRF in PE classes. Methods: Studies were identified from searches in ERIC, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science databases. Primary source articles, relating PE classes and CRF, published up to July 2019 in peer-reviewed journals were eligible for inclusion. Specific inclusion criteria were: (a) having cross-sectional or longitudinal and observational or interventional study designs; (b) targeting school-aged children or adolescents; (c) measuring CRF, heart rate or CRF test results as an outcome; (d) having statistical analyses of the CRF, heart rate or CRF test results outcomes reported; (e) focusing on PE classes or PE interventions that did not extended time or frequency of the classes; and (f) published in English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish. Results: A total of 24 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 10 studies have found a neutral effect of PE classes in students' CRF, eight studies found that PE indeed contributed to the improvement of CRF and six studies revealed mixed findings, when PE classes where controlled for others variables (e.g. body mass index, intensity). Higher intensity PE classes consistently demonstrated contributions to improving students' CRF. Conclusion: Review findings suggest that PE classes can contribute to the improvement of students' CRF. Intensity, age and weight status were identified as potentially relevant factors for promoting CRF in PE classes. To improve CRF, higher intensity classes should be provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring physical fitness in young athletes is essential to improve physical performance, identify talents and develop injury prevention programs. The aim of this investigation was to analyse the reliability of the physical fitness tests from the FITescola® battery in young athletes with different sports backgrounds and competition levels. Participants comprised of 138 young athletes (boys n = 92) aged 9 and 18 years old. Eight physical fitness tests assessing six components of physical fitness were performed: cardiorespiratory fitness (PACER); upper body muscular fitness (push‐up); flexibility (sit and reach); lower‐body muscular fitness (horizontal and vertical jump); agility (4 × 10 shuttle run); and speed (sprint at 20 m and 40 m). Each test was performed twice, with a one‐week interval (7 days) between duplicate tests. No differences between duplicate tests were found (p >.05), except for the speed at 20 m in boys (p <.001) and speed at 40 m in girls (p =.006). The battery of tests had good or excellent reliability and concordance of the ICC between the two trials (ICC ≥ 0.75) with exception for the 20 m speed run in girls that presented moderate reliability (ICC = 0.57). The Bland–Altman plots showed high reliability for all the fitness tests for both sexes. Hence, The FITescola® battery may be a novel tool to assess the physical fitness of large groups of young athletes from different sports backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sedentary behavior has been considered an independent risk factor for type-2 diabetes (T2D), with a negative impact on several physiological outcomes, whereas breaks in sedentary time (BST) have been proposed as a viable solution to mitigate some of these effects. However, little is known about the independent associations of sedentary pursuits, physical activity, and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) variables with glycemic control. We investigated the independent associations of total sedentary time, BST, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and CRF with glycemic outcomes in patients with T2D. Methods: Total sedentary time, BST, and MVPA were assessed in 66 participants (29 women) with T2D, using accelerometry. Glucose and insulin were measured during a mixed meal tolerance test, with the respective calculations of HOMA-IR and Matsuda index. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was also analyzed. CRF was measured in a maximal treadmill test with breath-by-breath gases analysis. Multiple regressions were used for data analysis. Results: Regardless of CRF, total sedentary time was positively associated with HbA1c (β = 0.25, p = 0.044). Adjusting for MVPA, total sedentary time was related to fasting glucose (β = 0.32, p = 0.037). No associations between total sedentary time and the remaining glycemic outcomes, after adjusting for MVPA. BST had favorable associations with HOMA-IR (β = -0.28, p = 0.047) and fasting glucose (β = -0.25, p = 0.046), when adjusted for MVPA, and with HOMA-IR (β = -0.25, p = 0.036), Matsuda index (β = 0.26, p = 0.036), and fasting glucose (β = -0.22, p = 0.038), following adjustment for CRF. When adjusting for total sedentary time, only CRF yielded favorable associations with HOMA-IR (β = -0.29, p = 0.039), fasting glucose (β = -0.32, p = 0.012), and glucose at 120-min (β = -0.26, p = 0.035), and no associations were found for MVPA with none of the metabolic outcomes. Conclusion: The results from this study suggest that sedentary time and patterns are relevant for the glycemic control in patients with T2D. Still, MVPA and CRF counteracted most of the associations for total sedentary time but not for the BST. MVPA was not associated with metabolic outcomes, and CRF lost some of the associations with glycemic indicators when adjusted for total sedentary time. Future interventions aiming to control/improve T2D must consider reducing and breaking up sedentary time as a viable strategy to improve glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the prospective associations between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and academic achievement in the youth. Methods: The sample included 1286 fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-grade students, age 11 to 14 yr (Mage = 11.3 T 1.1), from 14 schools followed for 3 yr. Academic achievement was assessed using the students' marks at baseline and at follow-up 3 yr apart, in Portuguese, mathematics, foreign language (English), and science. CRF was assessed by the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run test from the Fitnessgram battery. Students were classified as fit-fit, unfit-fit, fit-unfit, and unfit-unfit according to the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run test results at baseline and follow-up. Ordinal regression analyses were performed to examine associations between CRF and academic achievement. Results: Being persistently fit (fit-fit), compared with those classified unfit-unfit, increased the odds of having high levels of academic achievement in Portuguese (odds ratio (OR) = 3.49; 95% CI, 1.97-6.20; P < 0.001) and foreign language (OR = 2.41; 95% CI, 1.39-4.14; P < 0.01) at follow-up. Students that improved their CRF and became fit (unfit-fit) had also higher odds of achieving better marks than those persistently unfit-unfit in Portuguese (OR = 2.52; 95% CI, 1.42-4.45; P < 0.01) and foreign language (OR = 2.13; 95% CI, 1.23-3.67; P < 0.01). Conclusion: Consistently high and improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness are prospectively associated with better academic achievement especially in mother tongue and foreign language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: In pediatric populations, the use of resting heart rate as a health index remains unclear, mainly in epidemiological settings. The aims of this study were to analyze the impact of resting heart rate on screening dyslipidemia and high blood glucose and also to identify its significance in pediatric populations. Methods: The sample was composed of 971 randomly selected adolescents aged 11 to 17 years (410 boys and 561 girls). Resting heart rate was measured with oscillometric devices using two types of cuffs according to the arm circumference. Biochemical parameters triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose were measured. Body fatness, sleep, smoking, alcohol consumption and cardiorespiratory fitness were analyzed. Results: Resting heart rate was positively related to higher sleep quality (β = 0.005, p = 0.039) and negatively related to cardiorespiratory fitness (β = -0.207, p = 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve indicated significant potential for resting heart rate in the screening of adolescents at increased values of fasting glucose (area under curve = 0.611 ± 0.039 [0.534 - 0.688]) and triglycerides (area under curve = 0.618 ± 0.044 [0.531 - 0.705]). Conclusion: High resting heart rate constitutes a significant and independent risk related to dyslipidemia and high blood glucose in pediatric populations. Sleep and cardiorespiratory fitness are two important determinants of the resting heart rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examined the relationships between the practice of high-impact and nonimpact sports and bone status in adolescent male athletes. The researchers investigated differences from an age-matched control group and high-impact group of male athletes for variable like bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and limbs. The study found that the high-impact group displayed greater bone mass compared to the bone variables in other groups.

Background: This study was conceived to analyze how exercise and weight management psychosocial variables, derived from several health behavior change theories, predict weight change in a short-term intervention. The theories under analysis were the Social Cognitive Theory, the Transtheoretical Model, the Theory of Planned Behavior, and Self-Determination Theory. Methods: Subjects were 142 overweight and obese women (BMI = 30.2 ± 3.7 kg/m2; age = 38.3 ± 5.8y), participating in a 16-week University-based weight control program. Body weight and a comprehensive psychometric battery were assessed at baseline and at program's end. Results: Weight decreased significantly (-3.6 ± 3.4%, p < .001) but with great individual variability. Both exercise and weight management psychosocial variables improved during the intervention, with exercise-related variables showing the greatest effect sizes. Weight change was significantly predicted by each of the models under analysis, particularly those including self-efficacy. Bivariate and multivariate analyses results showed that change in variables related to weight management had a stronger predictive power than exercise-specific predictors and that change in weight management self-efficacy was the strongest individual correlate (p < .05). Among exercise predictors, with the exception of self-efficacy, importance/effort and intrinsic motivation towards exercise were the stronger predictors of weight reduction (p < .05). Conclusion: The present models were able to predict 20-30% of variance in short-term weight loss and changes in weight management self-efficacy accounted for a large share of the predictive power. As expected from previous studies, exercise variables were only moderately associated with short-term outcomes; they are expected to play a larger explanatory role in longer-term results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze pretreatment predictors of short-term weight loss in Portuguese overweight and obese women involved in a weight management program. Behavioral and psychosocial predictors were selected a priori from previous results reported in American women who participated in a similar program. Methods: Subjects were 140 healthy overweight/obese women (age, 38.3 ± 5.9 y; BMI, 30.3 ± 3.7 kg/m²) who participated in a 4-month lifestyle weight loss program consisting of group-based behavior therapy to improve diet and increase physical activity. At baseline, all women completed a comprehensive behavioral and psychosocial battery, in standardized conditions. Results: Of all starting participants, 3.5% (5 subjects) did not finish the program. By treatment's end, more than half of all women had met the recomended weight loss goals, despite a large variability in individual results (range for weight loss = 19 kg). In bivariate and multivariate correlation/regression analysis fewer previous diets and weight outcome evaluations, and to a lesser extent self-motivation and body image were significant and independent predictors of weight reduction, before and after adjustment for baseline weight. A negative and slightly curvilinear relationship best described the association between outcome evaluations and weight change, revealing that persons with very accepting evaluations (that would accept or be happy with minimal weight change) lost the least amount of weight while positive but moderate evaluations of outcomes (i.e., neither low nor extremely demanding) were more predictive of success. Among those subjects who reported having initiated more than 3-4 diets in the year before the study, very few were found to be in the most successful group after treatment. Quality of life, self-esteem, and exercise variables did not predict outcomes. Conclusions: Several variables were confirmed as predictors of success in short-term weight loss and can be used in future hypothesis-testing studies and as a part of more evolved prediction models. Previous dieting, and pretreatment self-motivation and body image are associated with subsequent weight loss, in agreement with earlier findings in previous samples. Weight outcome evaluations appear to display a more complex relationship with treatment results and culture-specific factors may be useful in explaining this pattern of association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: This study analyzed mechanisms by which a one-year obesity treatment intervention based on self-determination theory (SDT) influenced physical activity level and whether motivational predictors differed for structured vs. lifestyle forms of physical activity. Design: Randomized controlled trial lasting 1-year. Method: Pre-menopausal overweight and obese women (n = 239; 37.6 ± 7.1 y; 31.5 ± 4.1 kg/m2) participated in a group intervention designed to increase physical activity and motivation, following SDT. Partial least squares (PLS) latent variable modeling was used to test a cross-sectional multiple-level mediation model comprising experimentally-manipulated contextual need support, perceived need satisfaction, and motivational regulations for two distinct forms of physical activity. Results: The structural model explained a large amount of variance (62%) for intrinsic motivation, and moderate amounts of variance (16–25%) for the remaining regulations and exercise behaviors. Moderate and vigorous exercise was positively influenced by intrinsic motivation (p < .001) whereas lifestyle physical activity was not significantly predicted by motivational regulations. Behavioral regulations were influenced by perceived autonomy and perceived competence and both needs were affected by contextual support from treatment climate (p < .001). Conclusions: Results provide support for using the SDT framework to understand physical activity motivational processes in the context of weight management. Results also highlight structured and lifestyle physical activity as being promoted by different processes as a result of the intervention: more direct effects on lifestyle physical activity and indirect effects on structured exercise, mediated by intrinsic motivation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The ability to maintain functional fitness is important for preserving quality of life and promoting a healthy aging process. Habitual physical activity, especially that of moderate-to-vigorous intensity, has been associated with improvements in functional fitness resulting in enhanced functioning and reduced risk of disability, morbidity and mortality of older adults, whereas high amounts of sedentary time (ST) have been inversely associated with functional fitness and related with detrimental effects on several health-related outcomes. PURPOSE: We aimed to assess if moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) can moderate the relationship between ST and functional fitness and, thus, offset the adverse effects of ST in older adults. METHODS: Older adults (≥65 years old) from the national surveillance system in Portugal (n=564) had their MVPA and ST assessed using accelerometers. Functional fitness was assessed using the Senior Fitness Test battery and an overall z-score based on the individual scores for each fitness item was created. Multiple linear regression was used to model the outcomes, while adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and accelerometer wear-time. RESULTS: Higher ST was related with lower functional fitness (β=-0.01, p<0.0001), whereas increases in MVPA were related to a higher fitness level (β=0.02, p=0.001). There was a moderating effect of MVPA on the relationship of ST with functional fitness (p<0.0001), where MVPA ≥34.66 min/d ameliorated the significant inverse relationship between ST and functional fitness, whereas, engaging in ≥68.60 min/d of MVPA resulted in ST having a significant positive relationship with functional fitness. CONCLUSION: MVPA was found to be a moderator of the relationship between ST and functional fitness in older adults, such that engaging in at least 35 min/day of MVPA may offset the negative associations related with ST. Moreover, with higher levels of MVPA (≥69 min/d), having some ST may provide some bene fit to an older adult's ability to maintain functional fitness. This investigation was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (UIDB/00447/2020). IRC is supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (IRC: SFRH/BD/149394/2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]