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With this study we aimed to investigate the impact of a 12-week manipulative skills exercise programme on the motor proficiency of young individuals with intellectual disabilities. A total of 32 learners diagnosed with mild intellectual disabilities, with an average age of 17.81 ± 1.44 years, were divided into 2 equal-sized groups: a control group and an experimental group engaged in a manipulative skills intervention programme. Motor proficiency was assessed using the shortform of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition (BOT™-2), while the participants' coordination level was evaluated using the Body Coordination composite of the BOT™-2. Results show that the manipulative skills intervention programme led to significant improvements in the experimental group's total motor proficiency score on the shortform BOT™-2 (45.31 ± 12.01 vs. 37.12 ± 7.00, ANCOVA: F = 48.65, p = 0.00) as well as the Body Coordination composite(42.69 ± 11.31 vs. 39.84 ± 11.75, ANCOVA: F = 44.35, p = 0.00). These findings suggest that the experimental exercise programme had a positive effect on enhancing the motor proficiency of young individuals with mild intellectual disabilities.

Background: Children living in poverty often are exposed to situations that negatively affect various aspects of their development. So, it is important to propose interventional programs that minimize the negative effects of living in poverty on these children. Objective: To verify the impact of a mastery climate cognitive-motor skills school-based intervention on academic and motor performance, body mass index, and perceptions of competence and self-worth in children living in poverty. Method: 280 children (50% girls), 7- to10-years-old, from Ceará state -- Brazil, participated in this study. Intervention (IG, N = 140) and comparison (N = 140) groups were composed. The Test of Gross Motor Development -- 2, the Self-Perception Profile for Children, the School Performance Test (reading, writing, math), and the Body Mass Index (BMI) were used. Children in the IG participated in a mastery climate intervention and children in the CG in a recreational sports program for 12 weeks (36 sessions /140 min each session/ three times a week) with 60 min of academic activities, 20 min recess and snacks, and 60 min of motor practices. Results: The intervention group showed significant improvement from pre- to post-test, and higher motor, academic (reading, math), perceived competence, social acceptance, and self-worth scores than the comparison group at pos-test (p from 0.031 to <0.001). Conclusion: Mastery climate cognitive-motor intervention positively impacts the motor and academic performance and the self-perceptions of the children living in poverty, reinforcing the need for these interventions to helping children become more proficient and assured about their competences.

Introduction: This article reports the physical abilities and physical wellness of three groups of children with different neurodevelopmental disabilities--Autism, Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability. Methods: The causal-comparative research method was implemented in this study. The participants comprised 32 students with moderate intellectual disabilities, 18 with autism spectrum disorder, and 22 with Down Syndrome. The body mass index (BMI), flexibility, standing long jump, sitting height, stroke length, and medicine ball throwing levels were measured for physical fitness, and the groups were compared afterward. The Kruskal Wallis-H Test and Mann-Whitney U Test were applied to determine the differences between the groups' physical fitness averages for the statistical analysis. Results: Statistically significant differences were obtained in BMI, standing long jump, stroke length, and medicine ball throwing variables (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was discovered for the flexibility and sitting height variables (p > 0.05). The BMI, sitting height, and stroke length levels for the group with autism spectrum disorder were higher than the other groups, as the flexibility levels of the group with Down Syndrome were higher than the other groups. Students with intellectual disabilities were demonstrated to have better values than other groups regarding standing long jump and medicine ball throwing performances. Conclusions: Objective information about the physical fitness of individuals with children with different neurodevelopmental disabilities was obtained. In addition, the data obtained with these children will contribute to future plans for movement training as well as the content and frequency of the interventions, and will guide the development of new strategies to develop physical abilities and physical wellness.

School-age children with overweight or obesity continue to be problematic in the United States, and are associated with many health, social, and financial problems. Schools provide an excellent venue in which to promote healthy weight in students, and school nurses are well-positioned to play an essential role in controlling obesity. The number of studies reporting relationships among school health infrastructure and prevalence of elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) is limited. The present study explored associations between three components of school health infrastructure (staff, services, budget) and the proportion overweight or obese 1st, 3rd, and 6th grade students, after controlling for selected factors (race, county education level, county poverty level, rurality). Study results supported an independent association between elevated BMI and school health staff. Additionally, independent associations between elevated BMI and the following covariates were supported: household income, race, and parents' educational level. There is an ultimate need for well-designed studies addressing these associations.

Objective: To investigate the impact of generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) on eating behavior. Participants: Physical therapy and rehabilitation students. Methods: The Beighton evaluation (a cutoff of 5/9) for defining GJH. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40) was used for eating disorders. Smoking habits and alcohol use were also questioned. Results: Compared with 51 non-GJH students (mean age 20.5 years, 73% female), 46 students with asymptomatic GJH (20.6 years, 89% female) were more likely to have greater median EAT-40 scores (9 vs. 6, p = 0.002). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the susceptibility to eating behavior disorders (6.5% vs. 2.0%), smoking habits (6.5% vs. 9.8%), and alcohol use (15.2% vs. 11.8%) (p > 0.05). Positive correlation (r = 0.221, p = 0.029) and positive effect (R = 0.221, R[superscript 2] = 0.049; p < 0.05) between Beighton scores and EAT-40 scores were found. Conclusion: The more joint hypermobility the greater the risk for eating disorders.

Objective: This study investigated the sex-specific prevalence of smoking (past 30 days) and the associations with height among university/college students. Participants: 25,405 (11,579/14,826 males/females) college students in Xi'an China. Methods: A cross-sectional, self-administered survey. Results: The male and female prevalence of smoking (past 30 days) was 32.9% and 7.4%, respectively. The prevalence of smoking of the male height groups ranged from 29.8% to 36.9%; only the [greater than or equal to]188 cm height group showed significantly higher prevalence than the reference group (i.e., 173-177cm; 33.0%). The female prevalence of smoking was 4.0-8.2% in the [less than or equal to]170cm groups and increased to 12.3% in the 171-175 cm group and 36.1% in the [greater than or equal to]176 cm group, while it was 6.5% for the reference group (161-165 cm). Conclusions: This exploratory study firstly revealed the significantly higher prevalence of smoking among the "tallest" height groups, especially among females. Future studies are warranted to confirm such findings and explore related mechanisms.

This paper examines the link between cognitive processes and superior performance in contemporary dance. In the first study, thirty-six participants (professional dancers, nonprofessional dancers, and non-dancers) carried out a task in which they were asked to reproduce a sequence of dance steps while being recorded on a camcorder. Analysis revealed a significant effect of skill and task difficulty on performance. Performance correlated with individual practice, group practice, rehearsing hours, sleep, concentration, enjoyment, dyslexia, and height, but not handedness. In the second study, the same group of participants augmented by 26 participants (a total of 62 participants) completed a questionnaire. There were skill differences on deliberate practice, sleep, concentration, enjoyment of dance tasks, dyslexia, handedness, and gender differences on group practice and height. Overall, the results suggest that both practice and talent play a role in the acquisition of expertise in contemporary dance.

The basic timescales governing animal life are generally determined by body size. Pauses in naturally occurring human speech were investigated to determine if pause timescales are also sensitive to body size. Reported is an analysis of pause duration allometry in recorded interviews of 61 athletes. Pauses were divided into three classes based on whether they occurred during fluid speech or whether they preceded or followed a filled pause (i.e., "um"). Allometric laws relating body size to pause size were found for all three classes--larger people take longer pauses. The derived allometric exponents were used to evaluate a theory of how people experience the passage of time. The theory associates the experience of time passage with the distal flow of time through the mathematics of bounded exponential growth. Nonlinearities inherent in the theory are shown to predict, in detail, the way body size interacts with linguistic context in the deployment of pauses. The theory provides a meaningful framework for understanding how time is experienced as a felt quantity and how pauses are negotiated in everyday speech.

Using the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (weighted population size = 35,460,209; 8-18 years old; 52.1% males), we compared the obesity prevalence in children and adolescents between body mass index-based (BMI-based) and total percent body fat-based (BF%-based, measured by the dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) cutoffs. The BMI-based cutoffs exhibited closer alignments (k, 0.88-0.97) in the childhood obesity prevalence, while the absolute (sex-specific) BF% cutoffs had higher prevalence rates than the relative (age- and sex-specific) BF% cutoffs (k = 0.43 [95% CI, 0.38-0.49]), overly labeling Non-Hispanic white and Other race/ethnicity females with obesity. The BF%-based cutoffs had higher prevalence rates in most sex, age, and race/ethnicity groups than the BMI-based cutoffs. Furthermore, the absolute BF% cutoffs overly labeled Hispanic and Other race/ethnicity females with obesity. In summary, childhood obesity prevalence varied by sex, age, race/ethnicity across different cutoffs, with the BMI-based cutoffs showing closer alignments than the BF%-based cutoffs.

Mindful eating is a condition in which a person becomes aware of the moment while eating. Very few studies have investigated eating awareness in environments where physical activity is performed. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the duration and intensity of physical activity in adolescents aged 15-17 affects their nutritional awareness. 1117 adolescents aged 15-17 and one parent of each were involved in the study. It is a cross-sectional study. Personal information form, International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ-30) were used as data collection tools. There were no group differences between scores of vigorous actives and moderate actives from MEQ-30 total and subsamples in eating control, eating discipline and mindful eating, but there was difference between both groups and inactives group (p < 0.05). Inactives group had the highest level in emotional eating; there was group difference between vigorous actives and moderate actives (p< 0.05). The results suggest that there are useful items for exploring more about mindful eating, because the differences between mindful eating total and its subsamples and physical activity are important. A better understanding of mindful eating can lead to the development of more effective intervention strategies to address the risk of overweight and obesity in adolescents.

The current study is intended to study the mediating role of physical activity (PA) in the relationship between body image (satisfaction/dissatisfaction) and life satisfaction. Moreover, it is intended to investigate how teachers' BMI, age may vary through body image perception. Participants included 781 teachers ranging in age from 20 to 50 years old from all over Oman. A Google form survey was used to recruit participants. The collected data was analysed using SPSS version 23 statistical tools, and the Partial Least Squares (PLS) approach was used for Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using Smart-PLS Ver 3. The level of body image satisfaction was higher than dissatisfaction. Body image satisfaction has a positive and significant effect on teacher's life satisfaction, while a negative correlation was found between body image dissatisfaction and life satisfaction. Physical activity was a mediation variable in the relationship between body image (satisfaction/dissatisfaction) and life satisfaction. Policymakers should empower individuals to have a positive body image regardless of their size or appearance and it would improve certain areas of their lives, encouraging them to dedicate more energy and time to other critical aspects of their lives such as work, partnerships, and even leisure and enjoyment, resulting in improved overall life satisfaction.

Physical activity (PA) habit decreases and Body Image (BI) becomes important during adolescence. This paper focuses on determining two things: whether the level of participation in PA contributes to adolescents' PA attitudes and their quality of life-related body image and to examine whether there is a difference. The study utilized the cross-sectional design. 1281 individuals in the middle adolescence period participated in the study. Participants were between 15 and 17 years. International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Cognitive Behavioral Physical Activity Questionnaire (CBPAQ), and Body Image Quality of Life Inventory (BIQLI) were used as data collection tools. According to the study findings, there were significant differences in the BIQLI total, interaction with the opposite sex, and influence behavior/attitude between those who engaged in regular or irregular PA and those who did not engage in PA at all. Difference in the effect on self-efficacy and daily life sub-dimension was found between those who engaged in regular PA and those who did not. Outcome expectation and self-regulation items of those who engaged in PA were higher than for those who did not. Since adolescents are expected to engage in regular or irregular PA, personal barriers in front of them must be removed. It is therefore important to support their attitudes, which positively affects their PA, because participation in PA contributes positively to their PA and BI-related quality of life.

The purpose of this study is to describe the policies of the West Java regional government to overcome stunting, the factors that cause stunting in West Java, and strategies that can be applied to overcome stunting in West Java. A qualitative approach and literature review were used as the research method. Data were gathered using interviews and from various relevant studies published between 2020 and 2022. West Java, Indonesia, was selected as the research location. Data analysis shows that, first, Indonesia remains committed to overcoming the stunting problem by mobilizing all assets or resources by forming a young family guidance group, integrated service post, community nutrition development, clean and healthy living behavior socialization and integrated service post empowerment, providing training to anti-stunting ambassadors. Second, the causative factor is the lack of parental awareness of the importance of nutritious food for children. Third, the strategy to overcome stunting is to make improvements in six dimensions, namely, education, nutrition, food, health, social protection, and housing.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between the caffeine consumption status of students in sports sciences and their happiness levels. The study was quantitative and was conducted with the participation of 228 volunteer students studying in sports sciences from various universities (Artvin Coruh, Trabzon, Bayburt, Igdir, Agri Ibrahim Çeçen, Gazi, Atatürk). The Oxford Happiness Scale (OHS) developed by (Hills & Argyle, 2002) and this questionnaire were used to collect the data. Statistical analysis of the data was performed with independent groups T-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation analysis. As a result of the analysis, while a positive and low-level significant relationship was found between the students' happiness scores and the age variable (p < 0.05); no significant difference was found in the variables of gender, body mass index (BMI), department of education (p > 0.05). When looking at the variable of doing sports, statistically significant differences were found, and it was concluded that the mean score of those who did sports as licensed-national was significantly higher than the mean score of those who did sports as hobbyists and amateurs (p < 0.05). Again, a statistically significant difference was found in happiness scores according to chronic disease states; (p < 0.05) no difference was found according to smoking status (p > 0.05). At the same time, a statistically positive and low-level significant relationship was found between happiness scores and the amount of coffee consumed daily (p < 0.05); No statistically significant relationship was found between happiness and the amount of black tea and chocolate consumed daily (p > 0.05).

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of life kinetic exercises on the performance of floor curling athletes. A total of 40 volunteer women, 20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group, residing in the city center of Gaziantep, aged between 14 and 16 and doing floor curling, participated in the study. Life kinetic exercise was applied to the experimental group for 8 weeks along with floor curling training. On the other hand, only floor curling training was applied to the control group. The data were analyzed in the SPSS package program. The normality analysis of the obtained data was done with the Shapiro-Wilk test. Paired Sample T-Test was used for the comparison of normally distributed data within groups. At the end of the study, statistically significant differences were found in the comparison of the pre-test and post-test values of the experimental group. No significant difference was found in the comparison of the pretest and posttest values of the control group. As a result, it can be said that life kinetic exercises have positive effects on individuals' quick decision making and also on sportive performance depending on this decision.

In this study, we examine the relationship between sleep duration and reported levels of optimism in Generation Z (i.e., born after 1996) students aged 17 to 24. This study hypothesizes that optimism and duration of sleep will have a statistically significant positive relationship. Participants in this study are Generation Z college students located in the Southeastern United States. The sample consisted of 1562 students enrolled in a required physical activity class. A Pearson's correlation determined that there was a statistically significant positive relationship between sleep and optimism. Research implications and future research trends on sleep and optimism are discussed. [Note: The publication year (2021) shown on the PDF is incorrect. The correct publication year for this article is 2022.]

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of perception of the close environment on obesity and physical activity levels in university students. Included in this study were 113 students between 18-25 years of age, taking into account that there may be erroneous and missing data according to the 95% confidence level in the pre-sample size calculation table according to the confidence level and acceptable error for the research, 10% more than the recommended sample size was calculated and 113 students participated. Up to 20% of the participants were fitted with a pedometer and heart rate monitor for 1 day to determine their objective physical activity levels. Height measurement, body weight measurement, bioimpedance analysis, International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), pedometer, heart rate, and Immediate Walkability Perception Questionnaire (IWPQ) were applied to the participants. As a result, a significant relationship was found between the number of steps and the shops, facilities, and other nearby places in the vicinity (P < 0.05; r = -0.353). At the same time, a significant relationship was observed between the stores, facilities, and other nearby places in the vicinity and the level of physical activity (P < 0.13; r = -234). Relationships were found between the body mass index (BMI), Body fat percentage, and abdominal circumference data, which are considered as obesity indicators, and the sub-dimensions of the perception of walkability in the immediate environment, but none of these were statistically significant.

Aim: This research aimed to analyze the vocational adjustment of paramedic students in health sciences in terms of some anthropometric and motoric features. Material and Method: The research is a cross-sectional study, which is one of the quantitative research methods aimed at paramedic students. The study group consisted of 60 (n[subscript Male]=34, n[subscript Female]=110) first-year students (n[subscript Male]=16, n[subscript Female]=44; male: 19.63±1.36 years, female: 19.57±1.15 years) receiving education at Kirsehir Ahi Evran University (KAEU) Health Services Vocational School in the First and Emergency Aid Program who agreed to participate in the research voluntarily. To determine the descriptive statistics of the study group, gender and age variables were collected through the direct data collection method. After this process, required measurements, including somatotype measurements, were performed to determine the height, body weight (BW), hand grip strength (HGS), and arm mass values. After determining descriptive statistics, the Wilcoxon comparison test and Spearman correlation statistical test were performed, and the significance level was taken as p<0.05. In addition, relevant ethical permissions were obtained for the research. Findings: In addition to some differences with reference to the gender variable (Table 2), several significant correlations between hand grip strength and upper extremity (Tables 3-5) were identified. Moreover, a highly significant positive correlation was found between relative arm force (RAF) and hand grip strength (r[subscript RAF-HGS] = 0.707; p<0.001). When their somatotype structures were analyzed, male students were determined to have balanced ectomorph (1.77-1.96- 3.05), while female students had meso ectomorph (0.08-1.09-2.24) and overall (males & females) had meso ectomorph component (0.53-1.32-2.46). Conclusion and Suggestions: It was observed that the height values of the students were below some minimum value criteria for occupations such as police work, while their body mass index (BMI) values were within the normal range. Although the results were close to sedentary health professionals in terms of HGS, they were at a lower level than those of athletes. It is obvious that the students had different somatotype components regarding athletes. Based on this research, the conduct of further qualitative research on field workers is recommended as well as introducing some certain physical competence criteria in the recruitment of paramedic students.

There is a training protocol called 'FIFA 11+' recommended by the International Football Associations Association (FIFA) and the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) to football teams. This protocol is defined as a warm-up program used to prevent injuries in athletes. This program includes 3 parts. The first part consists of running exercises, the second part consists of exercises that improve strength, balance, muscle control and trunk stabilization, and the third part consists of advanced running exercises. The aim of this research is to determine the effect of the FIFA 11+ training program applied to young football players on selected parameters. In the U14 league category, 19 male football players who played licensed in an amateur football team (Age: 13.8 ± 0.05 years; Height: 167.25 ± 0.06 cm; Body weight: 57.59 ± 12.3 years) kg) participated voluntarily. Height and body weight measurement, 10-minute warm-up run and 20 m sprint test were performed on the athletes, respectively, on the 1st day. On the second day, a 10-minute warm-up run, reach and vertical jump tests were performed, respectively. After the applied tests, the athletes were randomly divided into two groups as experimental and control groups. Control group athletes applied the dynamic warm-up program determined in their routine training programs, and experimental group athletes applied the FIFA 11+ training program 2 days a week for 6 weeks in addition to their routine training programs. At the end of the 6th week, the previous measurements were made in the same way and the study was terminated. Shapiro-Wilk and T tests were used in the analysis of the data. According to the research findings; It was determined that the FIFA 11+ training program applied to the football players had a statistically significant effect on the jumping and flexibility performances of the athletes (p<0.05). In addition, it was determined that the program applied had an effect on the other performance parameters of the athletes, but this was not at a significant level (p>0.05). As a result; It is recommended that the FIFA 11+ training program applied to football players should be included in the training programs in order to contribute to the jumping and flexibility performances of the athletes.

The aim of this study is to determine the physical fitness levels of individuals with autism by comparing them with individuals in the early and middle adolescence periods with normal development and the needs of the individuals with autism in terms of physical fitness. This study is carried out at the Selçuklu Autism Foundation, which is the largest autism education center in Turkey. It is carried out in this center with autistic individuals aged 10-17 who have received sports training for at least one year, and randomly selected individuals between the ages of 10-17 who do not do sports and show normal development. In this study, the cross-sectional survey model, one of the survey models, is used. The physical fitness levels of individuals with and without autism participating in the research are determined by the Brockport Physical Fitness Test developed by the State University of New York and some motoric test batteries. The t-test for the difference between arithmetic means in independent groups is used. The other measurement is the non-parametric Mann Witney U test. According to the study findings, a high level of significant difference is found between BMI, triceps, calf, right and left hand grip, back strength, trunk lift, long jump and one mile running values in both t-test and Mann-Whitney U results in early and middle adolescence periods. As a result, according to Brockport test values, it shows that all values of individuals with autism are physically behind the individuals with normal development. These results show that individuals with autism are shorter in stature, have higher body weights and have higher BMI values than individuals with normal development.

Adults have a vertical attention bias (VAB) that directs their focus toward object tops and scene bottoms. This is consistent with focusing attention on the informative aspects and affordances of the environment, and generally favoring a downward gaze. The smaller size of children, combined with their relatively limited interactions with objects and scenes, could lead them to have diminished bias that only gradually develops. Alternatively, an early coupling of attention to action space could lead to VAB similar to adults. The current study investigates the developmental timeline of VAB, comparing 4-7-year-olds to adults. Participants (N = 50 children, 53 adults; 58% White, 22% Asian, 6% Black, 2% Native American, and 12% other) observed naturalistic photographic triptychs (48 objects, 52 scenes, all online). They made similarity judgments comparing a test figure to two flanking figures containing either the same top or same bottom. We found that (a) children and adults exhibit a common VAB for object tops and scene bottoms and (b) the adult bias is stronger than children's. Exploratory analyses revealed the same age trend within children, with VAB increasing with age, and asymptoting at the adult level at age 8. This demonstrates that despite age and body size differences that could make the environment for young children relatively disparate from adults, their perceptual system is already largely attuned to their individual interactive action space, with only minor continuing residual development. The findings support that, like adults, young children focus their attention on their action space and body level affordances, where they interact more with tops of objects and bottoms of scenes.

The importance of balance is considerably high in many sports that require struggle and close contact such as wrestling. Some losses in maintaining the balance due to the movements requiring high intensity during competitions and increase in the risk of injury due to these losses may occur in wrestling athletes. The aim of this study is to Increase the educational level of elite female wrestlers by examining the relationship between Functional Movement Screening Test Scores and static balance performance scores of elite young female wrestlers. 19 elite female wrestlers having average age of 22.94 ± 2.67 years, body weight 61.63 ± 7.25 kg, height 165.37 ± 5.17 cm and BMI 22.46 ± 1.60kg / m2 participated in the study. Functional Movement Screen Test ™ (FMST™) battery was used in determining the functional movements of the participants, while Tecnobody Prokin 200 Bergamo/Italy was used to determine the total postural stability index values. All static balance measurements were evaluated as standing Double-Leg Eyes Open (DLEO), Eyes Open Single-Leg Dominant Non-Dominant (EOSL-DM and EOSL-ND). Since higher stability index values indicate lower stability, the participants were found to have a negative correlation between non-dominant leg static balance and HS. SM. and TSPU, and between dominant leg static balance and HS. SM. and TSPU. In addition, it was found out that, there was a negative correlation between non-dominant leg static balance, dominant leg static balance and double leg static balance and the FMST™ scores of the participants. The results of this research can be very effective in improving the educational process in the field of wrestling.

The curfew restrictions applied during the pandemic period have had negative physical and psychological effects on people all over the world. Therefore, the aim of the study is examining the effect of distance exercise education on psychological state and body awareness. Twenty-one sedentary women aged 20-30 years participated in the study. Exercises were carried out for 6 weeks, 3 days a week, 1 hour daily. The exercise program sent to the participants digitally consists of a total of 8 moves: plank, crunch, leg raise, flutter kicks, mountain climbers, arms-high partial sit up, heel touches, half push up. 10 minutes of warm-up at the beginning of each exercise and 5 minutes of active cooling with 5 minutes of stretching at the end. All participants had the Body Awareness Questionarre (BAQ) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) filled digitally 6 weeks before and 6 weeks later. SPSS 20.00 program was used to analyze the data. The shapiro wilk test was used to determine whether the data showed normal distribution. Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used as the data did not show normal distribution in the analyzes. Significance level was accepted as p < 0.05. A statistically significant difference was found in all data as a result of the pre-test and post-test comparison of body weight, BDI and BAQ values (p < 0.05). As a result, it can be said that the exercise program applied to sedentary individuals has a positive effect on psychological state and body awareness.

This study, which included 50 young amateur male footballers aged between 16 and 18, aims to compare certain physical and performance parameters of young football players based on positions. Based on their positions, the footballers were divided into two groups as "central" and "wing" positioned players. The body composition, anaerobic power, speed and flexibility values have been determined using field tests. The data were analyzed using SPSS 22 statistics program. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to determine the normality distribution of the data. The independent t-test was used because of the normal distribution of the data. Confidence interval for statistical processes was considered to be p < 0.05. The average values and comparison results obtained from the physical parameters of the central and wing players have showed that there is a statistically significant difference between central and wing players in terms of height (cm), body weight (kg), fat mass (kg) and lean mass (kg) parameters (p < 0.05), whereas there is no statistically significant difference in age (years) and fat rate (%) parameters (p > 0.05). The average values and comparison results obtained from the physical parameters of the central and wing players have showed that there is a statistically significant difference between central and wing players in terms of vertical jump (cm), 30-m sprint (s) and anaerobic power (kgm/sec) parameters (p < 0.05), whereas there is no statistically significant difference in 10-m sprint (s) and flexibility (cm) parameters (p > 0.05). The results of this study showed that, in terms of physical parameters, the height, body weight, fat mass and lean mass values of the central players were statistically higher than the wing players. In terms of performance parameters, the vertical jump and 30-m sprint performance of the wing players were found to be statistically better than the central players, while the anaerobic power values of the central players were found to be statistically higher than the wing players.

In this study was to determine the impact of physical education and sports lesson on the physical capacity of children with special egitime needs and on this basis to outline the main directions for of educational process in secondary schools. Totally, 67 students region Kars in the of Turkey from 22 secondary education school participated in this study. They divided into groups according to their gender and health status; children with normal physical and mental development (24 boys, 18 girls; control group) and children with special education needs (15 boys, 10 girls; experimental group). Children's height, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) were used a standard methodology, a manual dynamometer to measure the strength of the upper limb and a test battery to determine their physical capacity. Regarding inclusive education, questionnaires were collected from physical education teachers. Results were compared with the total sample and between the two target groups. According to the findings of the research, when the change in physical capacity characteristics of boys and girls with and without special education needs is examined; Sprint 20 m, Hand Dynamometer -- appropriate upper limb, Dynamometry -- Inappropriate upper limb, Throwing a thick ball, Jumping to length, Crunches, 400 m running, Depth of inclination, after the experiment; although it has different effects on the physical capacities of children with cognitive, hearing and vision problems, it has not statistically significant compared to the groups In order to develop the physical capacity of children with special educational needs, physical education and sports lesson activities should be increased, and new models should be developed. Limitations, suggestions for future research and implications for practice are discussed.

Geographical, cultural, and socio-economic factors create a different lifestyle. Accordingly, the aim of this research was to identify the differences in anthropometric and fitness characteristics among adolescents living in Montenegro and Kosovo in order to optimize the physical fitness as a consequence of the proactive behavior. Anthropometric characteristics and fitness level measures were assessed by Eurofit testing battery among 600 Kosovar and 600 Montenegrin students, equally distributed by gender. Differences between countries, gender, and age group (13, 14 and 15 years) were assessed with multivariate and univariate analysis of variance. The results showed that Montenegrin students are taller, heavier, and achieve better results in the sit-ups and 20-m endurance shuttle-run tests. Kosovar students achieve better results in the standing broad jump and 10 × 5 m shuttle-run tests. Males achieve significantly better results in all tests, excluding the sit-and-reach test. Statistically significant differences among age groups were found for all variables, regardless gender and country (except for the flamingo and sit-and reach tests). This study is of importance to physical education teachers and curriculum authors to optimize students' proactive behavior based on the identified anthropometric and physical fitness differences between the two countries, age groups, and genders.

The aim of study is to examine the relationship between social appearance anxiety, automatic thoughts and depression, anxiety, and stress in university students. The research was carried out on a total of 381 participants, 214 of whom were women and 167 were men. The ages of the participants were between 18 and 35 and the mean age was 22. Data were collected via Social Appearance Anxiety Scale, Automatic Thoughts Scale and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and Personal Information Form. Pearson Correlation was used to examine whether there is a relationship between social appearance anxiety, automatic thoughts, and depression, anxiety, and stress. Independent sample t-test was conducted to examine whether the automatic thoughts levels differed in terms of having an emotional relationship. Analysis of variance was used to reveal whether social appearance anxiety differentiated at the level of weight and height satisfaction. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to examine whether automatic thoughts and social appearance anxiety predicted depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. It was concluded that there are positive and significant relationships between social appearance anxiety, automatic thoughts, depression, anxiety, and stress. The automatic thought averages of who had an emotional relationship were found to be significantly lower than the averages of who did not have. It was determined that there is a difference in social appearance anxiety levels according to height satisfaction. It is thought that studies to reduce automatic thoughts may be effective in reducing psychological symptoms.

The study aimed to determine the Somatotype characteristics of Turkish national male boxers, since the somatotype profile helps to establish an athlete's suitability for a sport. Twenty-five elite boxers (mean age 16.50±1.06 years; mean height 172±0.06cm and mean mass 64.62±9.88kg), who had some experiences in national and international tournaments participated in the study. Skinfold thicknesses, length and circumference measurements were conducted for all the boxers. Characteristics of somatotype were determined by using Heath-Carter and statistical analysis were made on computer using SPSS for Windows program. According to the results, Somatotypes were calculated as Endomorphy 3.42±1.03mean±SD; Mesomorphy 4.39±0.84 mean±SD and Ectomorphy 3.121±0.95mean±SD respectively. Thus, it was determined that boxers generally have a mesomorph structure.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences between physical and some motoric characteristics of university students who participate in regular sports training and those who do not. A total of 20 volunteer students, 10 students with an average age of 20.80 ± 1.69 and 10 students with an average age of 19.90 ± 1.45 without any exercise habits were included in the study. Body circumference measurements, vertical-horizontal jump and strength, flexibility, body mass index, body fat ratio, body circumference measurements, vertical-horizontal jump and claw-back-leg strengths, flexibility, peak and average power values of the participant groups were determined and compared. SPSS 20.0 package program was used to analyze the data. Athlete Students' body density, shoulder circumference, chest circumference, biceps (extension-flexion) circumference, average-peak strength, long-vertical jump, hand claw-back-leg strength were determined to be higher than non-athlete students (p<0.05). Besides, students doing sports; body weight, body mass index, body fat ratio and waist circumference measurement averages were found to be lower than non-athletes (p<0.05). As a result; it has been observed that the participation of young students in regular sports educations can be effective in preventing the risk of obesity and increases their motoric characteristics.

Fine motor skills enable children to make precise and coordinated movements with their hands and support their ability to engage in everyday activities and learning experiences. In a longitudinal study of 1,058 4-year-old children in rural Pakistan (n = 488 girls), we examined how prior and concurrent levels of home stimulation relate to change in fine motor skills from ages 2 to 4 while controlling for family wealth, maternal education, number of siblings at birth, prior and concurrent measures of children's physical growth and food insecurity, and prior motor skills at age 2. Moreover, we tested whether the association between early home stimulation and subsequent fine motor skills was mediated by physical growth, food insecurity, motor skills at age 2, and concurrent home stimulation. Results revealed that home stimulation at 18 months was positively associated with change in fine motor skills from ages 2 to 4, over and above family socioeconomic resources. This association was mediated by physical growth, food insecurity and motor skills at age 2. In contrast to home stimulation at 18 months, home stimulation at age 4 was positively associated with concurrent motor skills at age 4 when controlling for all antecedent family factors, as well as prior and concurrent measures of physical growth and food insecurity, and prior motor skills at age 2. Findings suggest that the preschool period may be an important window of time when physically and cognitively stimulating experiences at home uniquely relate to variability in fine motor development. [This article is published in "Developmental Psychology" (EJ1305482).]

Background: Child development and life outcomes are partly linked to prenatal and maternal conditions such as mother's age at birth. Thus, the issue of teenage motherhood has attracted significant concern from researchers and policymakers because of its potential implications for children. The existing literature on effects of teenage motherhood on children is typically limited to weight at childbirth. Other studies are mainly descriptive in nature and do not account for selection bias associated with teenage mothers and their deprived environment resulting in their children also being brought up in similar environment. Aim: This article examined the effects of teenage motherhood on child outcomes, specifically on children's education, economic well-being, reported health status and body mass index (BMI). Setting: Children (0-14 years) of teenage mothers (less than 20 years at first birth) in National Income Dynamics Survey (NIDS) data constitute the subjects under investigation in this study. Methods: Using NIDS data, the study applied pooled regression, random effects model and propensity score matching (PSM) technique to examine the effect of teenage motherhood on child outcomes. Results: The study confirms that the PSM method is more robust to selection bias than pooled regression and random effect techniques. The findings from this study reveal that teenage motherhood significantly increases child grade repetition and economic dependency. However, teenage motherhood association with child health and BMI is found to be insignificant. Conclusions: Teenage motherhood has far-reaching effects on children outcomes, thus proactive, reactive and post-active policies and programmes focusing on minimising the effect of teenage motherhood and enhancing children's welfare are recommended.

This study aims to investigate the correlations between the physical activity levels of students who study sports sciences and their life satisfaction levels according to a number of variables. The study group was composed of 212 students--100 of whom were female and 112 of whom were male--who attended Physical Education and Sports School of Adiyaman University in 2020-2021 academic year. The participants were given the international physical activity questionnaire (Craig et al., 2003) and satisfaction with life scale (SWLS) (Diener & Griffin, 1985) along with personal information form (IPAQ-SF) online. As a result, no correlations were found between physical education and sports school students' levels of physical activities and their life satisfaction. Accordingly, the BMI average for the female students ([X-bar] = 20.31) was found to be significantly lower than the average for the male students ([X-bar] = 23.68). The inactive students' average ([X-bar] = 21.61) and the average of the students who were very active ([X-bar] = 21.37) were significantly higher (p < 0.01). On the other hand, no significant differences were found in the participants' levels of physical activity or in their life satisfaction levels according to types of sports and gender (p > 0.05).

The impact of regular track and field trainings on student's physical development and physical preparedness have been studied in the work. The study was conducted in the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University. In total, 64 students at the age of 17-20 years have participated into the study. Applied methods: anthropometry, physiometry, the Stange-Hench tests. Sports and pedagogical control tests (on flexibility, strength, speed, endurance and agility) have been used as well. While evaluating students' physical development, the second study of both 'Sports' and 'Initial' groups has revealed the high indices among boys according to the following criteria: body height and weight, chest bulk, vital capacity, chest excursion and the Stange-Hench tests. According to the heart rate criterion, the indices of the "Sports" group were reliably higher than those of the "Initial" group (P < 0.05). During the comparison of the second study results of girls' physical development, more reliable distinctions have been found out (P < 0.05). When the physical development indices were under the study, the second examination exposed and proved that the flexibility of boys from 'Sports' group being higher on 7.1 cm (P < 0.05). The experimental materials provided in this article gave an opportunity for concluding that systematic track and field trainings had had a positive impact on the physical development indices, to be precise on the functional condition and physical preparedness level of boys and girls at the age 17-20 years old.

Background: Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS) are important building blocks for children's sport-participation and lifelong physical activity. In the last decade, several international studies have reported delays in the development of FMS. To get better insight into the Dutch situation and to provide future directions, this study examined the development of FMS in Dutch primary school children. Method: The main goal of this study is to compare FMS of 11-12-year-old Dutch children in 2016 with scores of similarly-aged-children in 2006. In addition, gender, age, BMI were taken into account, to see whether changes in motor performance are related to these child characteristics. FMS-test scores on seven motor competence tests (balance, swing, jump, roll, shoot, throwing and catching, and tennis) from 1939 children in 2016 were set side by side with those of 1648 children in 2006. Temporal changes in motor competence scores were analyzed using regression-analysis. Results: This cross-sectional study shows better results for the children in 2006 compared to similarly-aged-children in 2016. Lower scores were found on six out of seven tested FMS, with the largest declines on the object control skills tennis and throwing and catching. Only vaulting jump skills remained on the same level. Overall, children with a higher BMI scored lower on all tests, except for throwing and catching via the wall. On the balancing, jumping and tennis test, the gap with children with a lower BMI widened over the last decade. Girls showed a lower competence level on rolling, shooting and throwing and catching compared to boys. During the last decade, their performance on the tennis test decreased more than for boys. Conclusions: Results of this study are alarming as diminishing motor skills are related to lower sport participation and poorer health outcomes. For the future generation, new interventions are needed to help children reach a sufficient proficiency level in FMS, to prevent or overcome the negative effects of lowered motor skills. Targeting FMS components during physical education and outside of school hours may potentially be a valuable strategy in reverting the lowering FMS levels amongst children.

Objective: To assess the dietary quality and determine the influence of food-away-from-home (FAFH) on dietary quality and weight status among faculty and staff. Participants and methods: Faculty and staff (n = 152) from a public university completed an online Food Frequency Questionnaire. Number of FAFH consumed per week, dietary intakes, dietary quality as assessed by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Results: On average participants consumed FAFH four times per week. FAFH was associated with increased intake of trans-fats (p < 0.05) and reduced HEI scores (p < 0.01). Increased consumption of trans-fats was associated with a high BMI (p < 0.001). Conversely, an increase in the HEI-2015 score was associated with a reduction in BMI (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Results suggest that the consumption of FAFH increased the intake of trans-fats and decreased diet quality, while improvements in diet quality, as measured by the HEI-score, were associated with reduced BMI among faculty and staff.

Objective: Determine students' attitude toward menu labeling before and after menu labeling implementation at university dining facility. Participants: College students aged 18 years and older eating at campus dining facility. Methods: Survey on attitude toward menu labeling, weight management status, and athletic classification (NCAA, recreational, or non-athlete) was completed 30 days pre- and post-menu labeling implementation. Results: Females showed stronger positive attitude toward menu labeling. Students trying to lose or gain weight had stronger positive attitudes toward menu labeling than students maintaining weight, as did overweight students compared to normal weight students. NCAA athletes had lower attitude mean scores toward menu labeling than other athletic classifications. Conclusion: Attitude toward menu labeling varies by students' gender, body mass index (BMI), and weight management focus, with NCAA athletes having the least positive attitude. Focus future research on effective ways to inform students on menu labeling in university dining facilities in order to nutritionally engage young adults.

Objective: Height is a significant, yet under-studied dimension of body dissatisfaction in men. The present study examined the relationship between height dissatisfaction, height, muscle and fat dissatisfaction, body ideals, and eating disorder symptoms in men. Participants and methods: Participants were a sample of male undergraduate Australian students (N = 224) who were administered self-report measures of height, muscle, and fat dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, and muscle and body fat body-ideals, and reported their height. Results: Results showed that height, muscle dissatisfaction, and desired muscularity were important for explaining height dissatisfaction. Additionally, although eating disorder symptoms did not uniquely predict height dissatisfaction, there were small positive correlations between height dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of height in male body dissatisfaction and its association with muscular dissatisfaction and desired muscularity, as well as the potential significance of height in male eating disorders.

In this study, classifications were made from the data obtained from the Health-Related Physical Fitness Report cards and BMIs of students through data mining methods, artificial neural networks, and decision trees models. Then the classification performances of both models were compared. The body weight and height measurements of the students in the Health-Related Physical Fitness Report were formulated, and their BMI classification was made. In addition, it was investigated whether other parameters such as shuttle, push-up, and sit-and-stretch flexibility test values had an effect on BMI classification. The study group comprised 1,050 secondary school students studying in the Cihanbeyli district of Konya in 2017. In conclusion, it was determined that artificial neural networks had more correct classifications than decision trees analysis. In the Health-Related Physical Fitness Report, shuttle and push-up stood out among the variables affecting BMI classification.

Volleyball is a competitive sport and the main goal is to win or defeat other teams. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relation between selected anthropometric variables and reaction time of volleyball players. Fourteen district-level volleyball players from Bolpur, Birbhum, and West Bengal were selected as subjects. The age of the subjects was 19 to 25 years. Anthropometric segments (i.e., height, weight, arm length, leg length, BMI, and reaction time) were the variables of the study. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was used to find out the relationship. The level of significance was set at 0.05. There is a positive relationship between reaction time and weight, arm length, leg length, and BMI, but there is a negative relationship between height and reaction time of volleyball players.

Objective: To assess the clinical impact of living alone on weight gain in university students. Participants: This retrospective cohort study included 17540 male and 8854 female university students admitted to a national university in Japan. Methods: An association between living arrangement and the incidence of weight gain =10% and overweight/obesity (body mass index (BMI) =25 kg/m2) was assessed using multivariable-adjusted Poisson regression models. Results: Weight gain was observed in 1889 (10.8%) male and 1516 (17.1%) female students during 3.0 and 2.9 years of the mean observational period, respectively. Living alone was identified as a significant predictor of weight gain (adjusted incidence rate ratio of living alone vs. living with family: 1.24 [1.13-1.36] and 1.76 [1.58-1.95] in male and female students, respectively) and was also as a predictor of overweight/obesity. Conclusions: University students living alone were at a significantly higher risk of weight gain and overweight/obesity than those living with family.

Introduction: The aims of this study were to examine cross-sectional, and longitudinal association of different measures of obesity and physical fitness with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in adolescents with Down syndrome. Methods: Longitudinal analysis included 90 adolescents with Down syndrome. Obesity and physical fitness were measured following the ALPHA battery. Blood pressure and blood samplings (glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and serum lipid triglycerides levels (mg/dl) were determinated. Results: In cross-sectional analyses, obesity was positively associated with single CVD risk factors and CVD risk factor index (all p < 0.05). In the prospective analyses, obesity was not associated with single CVD risk factors, but components of physical fitness at baseline impact in some single CVD risk factors (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Obesity might be more strongly related to current cardiovascular-health, while components of physical fitness might be more related to future cardiovascular-health in adolescents with Down syndrome. [This article was written on behalf of the UP&DOWN Study Group.]

The primary aim of this study was to identify levels of fundamental movement skills (FMS) proficiency in primary school children. A secondary aim was to establish if these FMS proficiency levels differentiated between children born in different quartiles of the school year. The results demonstrated overall levels of FMS proficiency were low in both genders with significant differences in FMS proficiency established between genders on several of the skills. In addition, significant differences were shown with some FMS and quartiles of the school year in boys only. In summary, these findings suggest that there is a greater need for a clearer strategy or focus to promote and develop FMS proficiency within the primary school environment. It is also important, for PE teachers, and practitioners, to be aware of the effect of the RAE with FMS proficiency on development, assessment, and selection at this age.

Identification of cardiometabolic risk (CMR) in U.S. younger population by assessing muscular strength via handgrip (HG) dynamometry may aid in prevention efforts. Currently, no nationally representative HG cut-points are available for identifying increased CMR in U.S. adolescents or young adults. In this study, we propose normalized grip strength (NGS) cut-points for U.S. younger population CMR identification. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 data sets were used for analysis. A total of 1,033 participants (female [F], n = 498; male [M], n = 535) aged 12-24 years without current infection were included in analyses. The identified age- and sex-specific NGS cut-points are: M = 0.39 and F = 0.34 (age = 12-17 years), M = 0.45 and F = 0.34 (age = 18-24 years). These cut-points may be used in U.S. public health screening routines such as school- or community-based health-related fitness surveillance programs. Future work should use these cut-points in various samples to test their predictive utility for increased CMR.

Purpose: Physical education (PE) is an important context for promoting health-related cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in youth. Within PE, the lesson context and teacher behavior may be relevant for the promotion CRF; however, evidence is scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess whether students' CRF improvement in a school year was explained by PE lesson context and teacher behavior. Method: A 1-year observational one-group pretest/posttest study, including 212 students, was conducted. The Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) was used to assess CRF. The PE lesson context and teacher behavior were assessed using the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time. Multivariate linear regression models were performed to examine the effect of time spent in each category of lesson content and teacher behavior on the change in PACER laps from the beginning to the end of the school year. Results: Lesson time spent in gameplay (boys: B = -0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-0.45, -0.02]; girls: B = -0.17, 95% CI [-0.29, -0.04]), time spent by teachers in instruction tasks (boys: B = 0.38, 95% CI [0.17, 0.60]; girls: B = 0.33, 95% CI [0.17, 0.48]), and promoting fitness (girls: B = 1.40, 95% CI [0.60, 2.20]) were associated to PACER improvement. Lesson time spent in general content (boys: B = -0.24, 95% CI [-0.45, -0.02]; girls: B = -0.17, 95% CI [-0.29, -0.04]) and time spent by teachers in management tasks (boys: B = -0.42, 95% CI [-0.70, -0.15]; girls: B = -0.46, 95% CI [-0.63, -0.28]) were negatively associated to PACER. Discussion/Conclusion: Promoting CRF in PE can be achieved by providing active class contexts, such as gameplay, reducing management time, and promoting in-class and out-of-class fitness.

Early care and education (ECE) teachers are constantly moving throughout their day with varying physical demands akin to those of athletes. Teachers are continuously bending, stooping, and squatting to lift and carry children as well as sitting on the floor or in child-sized furniture--all activities that require substantial fitness. This said, many ECE teachers have health issues including obesity, diminished aerobic capacity, and perceived stress, which can adversely influence their physical well-being and place them at risk for work-related musculoskeletal issues. This study of ECE teachers, which is part of a larger study of overall teacher wellness, involved direct, on-site measures of ECE teachers' cardiorespiratory capacity and in-classroom ergonomic assessment of activities. These measures were then triangulated with self-reported health information to better understand the current status of various aspects of teachers' physical well-being and correlational analysis was then used to identify potential risk and/or protective factors. Research Findings: ECE teachers are constantly moving throughout their day with varying physical demands and stressors that, combined with unfavorable working conditions, contribute to developing musculoskeletal pain and poor cardiorespiratory fitness. Practice or Policy: Many of the physical wellness issues identified in this study can be mitigated through modest changes that could be incorporated into teachers' daily work behaviors and activities, such as education and programs to enhance the physical wellness of these "educational athletes" and better-prepare them for the "sport of teaching."

This study aims to determine the effects of kangaroo care at birth on exclusively breastfeeding, infant growth and development according to attachment theory. The study is a randomized controlled trial. The sample of the study consisted of 132 pregnant women between 36 and 38 gestational weeks. Kangaroo care group received 'kangaroo care and breastfeeding training' and practiced kangaroo care at birth. The control group received routine care. Mothers' attachment levels, exclusively breastfeeding duration for six months, growth and development parameters were evaluated for nine months. A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in exclusive breastfeeding duration (KCG: 5.22 mo ± 1.18 mo; CG: 3.47 mo ± 1.51 mo), growth parameters of infants and mothers' attachment scale mean scores for nine months (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between development parameters of the infants (p > 0.05). It was found that kangaroo care had a positive effect on exclusively breastfeeding and baby's growth.

To describe and analyze the changes in anthropometric parameters in children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) from birth to four years of age. This prospective study evaluated 117 children diagnosed with CZS. Anthropometric indices evaluated annually were classified with respect to presence of microcephaly and adequacy of weight-for-age, length/height for-age and body mass index-for-age (BMI-for-age). At birth, 69.6% of the children had microcephaly, 90.2% had adequate weight and 72.1% had adequate length. The following year, an increase occurred in the proportion of children with microcephaly, with a reduction of those with adequate weight. In the second year, the proportion of children with microcephaly increased again, while those with adequate BMI decreased. In the third to fourth years of life, a reduction was found in the proportion of children with adequate height. Anthropometric indices are affected in children with CZS over the first four years of life and appear to be potentiated over time.

Objective: To explore the associations between the consumption of three categories of ultra-processed food (sugary beverages, sweet, and salty snacks) and body mass index (BMI) among Chilean university students. Methods: We conducted a multi-center, descriptive study among 2,039 students from 6 Chilean universities. Food consumption was surveyed using a validate food survey. That height and body weight were objectively measured to calculate BMI for determining weight status, and also, tobacco use and physical activity were measured. Results: An intake equal to or higher than 1 serving of sugary beverage a day was associated with greater odds of obesity in university students (OR:1.32 [95% CI: 1.00, 1.74]), 2 servings/day (OR: 1.30 [95% CI: 1.04, 1.50]), and 3 servings/day (OR: 1.39 [95% CI: 1.05, 1.80]). Neither consumption of sweet nor salty snacks (=1 servings/day) related to differential odds of obesity: (OR: 0.83 [95% CI: 0.42, 1.64]) and (OR: 1.79 [95% CI: 0.93, 3.41]), respectively. Conclusion: In a sample of Chilean university students, consumption of sugary beverages, and not consumption of sweet or salty snacks, was associated with obesity.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between sugar and NNS consumption with body fat percentage in young adults. Methods: 524 college students were asked to complete the Web-based National Institutes of Health (NIH) Diet History Questionnaire II and had their body fat percentage measured using a bioelectrical impedance analysis scale. Result: One-fourth of the participants were classified as overfat/obese and of those overfat or obese, 49% of them were African American. Overfat/obese participants consumed significantly more sugar than the heathy group and the underfat group (p<0.001). Saccharin consumption was significantly higher in the overfat/obese group compare to the underfat and normal groups (p<0.001). The odds of becoming overfat/obese increased 1.2 times for excessive total sugar consumption (95% CI: 1.0-1.8, p<0.05). Conclusion: Excessive sugar and saccharin consumption were associated with higher body fat percentage in young adults.