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Introduction: We studied the differences on physical fitness, fatness and cardiovascular profile in Spanish and Moroccan women. Material and methods: The study comprised 63 and 58 women aged 45-65 years from South of Spain and North of Morocco, respectively. We assessed fitness and body composition using standard procedures. We also assessed resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Results and discussion: Moroccan women had a better performance in the main health-related physical fitness components, i.e. higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (P = 0.01) and (lower-body) muscular strength (P < 0.001). Diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.004), RHR and total cholesterol (both P = 0.04) were lower in Moroccan women. No differences were observed in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: The women from Morocco had a healthier fitness and cardiovascular profile than the women from Spain. Further research on physical fitness and other health indicators in understudied populations is needed.Introducción: Estudiamos las diferencias en la forma física, grasa corporal y perfil cardiovascular de mujeres españolas y marroquíes. Materiales y métodos: El estudio comprendió 63 mujeres del sur de España y 58 del norte de Marruecos con un rango de edad de 45-65 años. Evaluamos la forma física y la composición corporal utilizando procedimientos estándar. También evaluamos la frecuencia cardíaca en reposo (FCR), la presión sanguínea, la glucosa en ayunas, el colesterol total, el colesterol LDL, HDL y los triglicéridos. Resultado y discusión: las mujeres marroquíes obtuvieron mejores resultados en los principales componentes de la salud relacionada con la forma física, como son mejores niveles de capacidad cardiorrespiratoria (P = 0,01) y fuerza muscular del tren inferior (P < 0,001). La presión sanguínea diastólica (P = 0,004), FCR y colesterol total (ambos P = 0,04) fueron menores en las mujeres marroquíes. No se observaron diferencias en la prevalencia de síndrome metabólico. Conclusiones: Las mujeres marroquíes presentaron unos niveles de forma física y perfil cardiovascular más saludables que las españolas. Se requieren investigaciones adicionales sobre la forma física y otros indicadores de salud en poblaciones poco estudiadas.

Introduction: We studied the differences on physical fitness, fatness and cardiovascular profile in Spanish and Moroccan women. Material and methods: The study comprised 63 and 58 women aged 45-65 years from South of Spain and North of Morocco, respectively. We assessed fitness and body composition using standard procedures. We also assessed resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Results and discussion: Moroccan women had a better performance in the main health-related physical fitness components, i.e. higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (P = 0.01) and (lower-body) muscular strength (P < 0.001). Diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.004), RHR and total cholesterol (both P = 0.04) were lower in Moroccan women. No differences were observed in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: The women from Morocco had a healthier fitness and cardiovascular profile than the women from Spain. Further research on physical fitness and other health indicators in understudied populations is needed.Introducción: Estudiamos las diferencias en la condición física, grasa corporal y perfil cardiovascular en mujeres españolas y marroquís. Material y métodos: El estudio comprendió 63 mujeres del sur de España y 58 del norte de Marruecos con un rango de edad de 45-65 años. Evaluamos la condición física y la composición corporal empleando procedimientos estándar. También evaluamos la frecuencia cardíaca en reposo (FCR), la presión sanguínea, la glucosa en ayunas, el colesterol total, el colesterol LDL, HDL y los triglicéridos. Resultados y discusión: Las mujeres marroquíes obtuvieron mejores resultados en los principales componentes de salud relacionada con la condición física, como son los mayores niveles de capacidad cardiorrespiratoria (P = 0,01) y fuerza muscular (del tren inferior) (P < 0,001). La presión sanguínea diastólica (P = 0,004), la FCR y el colesterol total (ambos P = 0,04) fueron menores en las mujeres marroquíes. No se observaron diferencias en la prevalencia de síndrome metabólico. Conclusiones: Las mujeres marroquíes tenían una condición física y un perfil cardiovascular más saludables que las españolas. Se necesita investigación adicional sobre la condición física y otros indicadores de salud en poblaciones infra estudiadas.

Introduction: We studied the differences on physical fitness, fatness and cardiovascular profile in Spanish and Moroccan women. Material and methods: The study comprised 63 and 58 women aged 45-65 years from South of Spain and North of Morocco, respectively. We assessed fitness and body composition using standard procedures. We also assessed resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Results and discussion: Moroccan women had a better performance in the main health-related physical fitness components, i.e. higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (P =0.01) and (lower-body) muscular strength (P < 0.001). Diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.004), RHR and total cholesterol (both P = 0.04) were lower in Moroccan women. No differences were observed in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: The women from Morocco had a healthier fitness and cardiovascular profile than the women from Spain. Further research on physical fitness and other health indicators in understudied populations is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We studied the differences on physical fitness, fatness and cardiovascular profile in Spanish and Moroccan women. Material and methods: The study comprised 63 and 58 women aged 45-65 years from South of Spain and North of Morocco, respectively. We assessed fitness and body composition using standard procedures. We also assessed resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Results and discussion: Moroccan women had a better performance in the main health-related physical fitness components, i.e. higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (P = 0.01) and (lower-body) muscular strength (P < 0.001). Diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.004), RHR and total cholesterol (both P = 0.04) were lower in Moroccan women. No differences were observed in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: The women from Morocco had a healthier fitness and cardiovascular profile than the women from Spain. Further research on physical fitness and other health indicators in understudied populations is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]