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The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Power Walker® 610(PW) pedometer for step counting in children. The study sample was composed of 30 boys and 22 girls, ...

Background. North Americans report insufficient moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and ample sedentary behaviors (SBs), suggesting possible barriers to an active lifestyle. This study compared self-reported MVPA and SB before and during COVID-19 “Stay-at-Home” restrictions as a potential barrier across North America. Methods: Questionnaires were distributed from 21 April to 9 May 2020. ANOVAs compared data overall and by group (age, sex, race, income, education, employment status). Results: During restrictions, 51.4% (n = 687) of the 1336 responses (991 female, 1187 Caucasian, 634 18–29 years) shifted to work from home and 12.1% (n = 162) lost their job. Overall, during restrictions, 8.3% (n = 110) fewer reported work-related MVPA (−178.6 ± 20.9 min/week). Similarly, 28.0% (n = 374) fewer reported travel-related MVPA, especially females and younger age groups. While the 7.3% (n = 98) fewer reporting recreational MVPA was not statistically significant (−30.4 ± 11.5 min/week), there was an increase in SB (+94.9 ± 4.1 min/week) in all groups, except the oldest age group (70+ years). Locomotive activities and fitness class remained the predominant MVPA mode. Of those reportedly using facilities (68%, n = 709) before COVID, 31.3% (n = 418) would not return due to it “being unsafe”. Conclusion: While barriers related to pandemic restrictions had a negative short-term impact on MVPA and SB in North America, the long-term impact is unknown.

Background. Female adolescents are considered a risk group for cardiometabolic disease due to their lifestyle (LS). Objective. To evaluate the association between LS classes and body composition groups with cardiometabolic disease risk factors and pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers in female adolescents. Methods. This cross-sectional study was carried out with female adolescents aged 14 to 19 years, from Viçosa-MG, Brazil. Latent class analysis assessed LS classes. Kinanthropometric measurements were taken together with the body fat percentage (BF%), being analyzed by the Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) equipment. Blood pressure and biochemical parameters were analyzed in the Health Division of the Federal University of Viçosa. The pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers were analyzed using Luminex technology. Associations with biomarkers were estimated by multiple linear regression. Results. 405 female adolescents were evaluated. The majority, 82.57%, 72.90%, and 65.31%, were classified as inactive by the number of steps, with high screen and cell phone time, respectively. Furthermore, 41.55% did meet the minimum of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and 54.69% had high values of BF% (DEXA). The “Sedentary & Inactive LS” class together with the high levels of weight and BF% were associated with increased levels of blood pressure, lipid profile, and uric acid. It was also found that “Inactive & Sedentary LS”, high BF%, insulin resistance, and ultra-sensitive C-reactive protein were associated with the concentrations of proinflammatory biomarkers of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and leptin. Conclusion. We concluded that female adolescents with overweight/obese and high BF% presented higher values of anthropometric indicators, levels of blood pressure, concentration of uric acid and hs-CRP, and lower concentration of HDL. Inactive and Sedentary lifestyle of these girls, along with excess body fat, insulin resistance, and higher concentrations of hs-CRP were associated with the higher concentration proinflammatory markers.

This study aimed to compare the energy expenditure and intensity of active video games to that of treadmill walking in children and adolescents.Seventy-two boys and girls (aged 8-13 years) were recruited from local public schools. Energy expenditure and heart rate were measured during rest, during 3-km/hr, 4-km/hr, and 5-km/hr walks, and during active games (Adventure, Boxing I, Boxing II, and Dance). During walking and active games, we also assessed physical activity using an accelerometer.The energy expenditure of the active games Adventure, Boxing I, Boxing II, and Dance was similar to that of treadmill walking at 5 km/hr in boys and girls. Heart rate was significantly higher for the game Adventure compared with walking at 3 km/hr, 4 km/hr, and 5 km/hr and the game Dance in both genders. The heart rate of girls during the games Adventure and Dance was significantly higher compared with boys. There was a statistically significant difference (p .05, with an effect size ranging from 0.40 to 3.54) in the counts·minXBOX 360 Kinect games provide energy expenditure and physical activity of moderate intensity for both genders. The use of active video games can be an interesting alternative to increase physical activity levels.

BACKGROUND Regular physical activity is suggested as an important non-pharmacological mechanism to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Thus, the objective the present study was to verify the association of the number of daily steps with cardiovascular risk factors in basic education teachers and analyze the suitability of the cutoff of 10,000 steps/day as a predictor for the main risk factors in this sample. METHODS Two hundred teachers (43.2±10.2 years) of basic education were assessed in Vicosa, Brazil. It was analyzed the number of daily steps, Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio, body fat percentage (%BF), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glucose, total cholesterol, high-density (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. RESULTS The group which exceeded the 10,000 steps had lower BMI, BF% and triglycerides (P

We evaluated the benefits and relationship of the number of steps per day to the cardiometabolic risk factors: adiposity indicators; insulin resistance; and metabolic syndrome(MetS) in apparently healthy Brazilian middle-aged men. Design Cross-sectional. Apparently healthy men (age: 50 ± 5 years; n = 299) were studied. The number of steps per day was measured by pedometer. The adiposity indicators (waist circumference, total body fat, android and gynoid body fat), serum insulin, glucose and triglycerides, triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) ratio, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and MetS were assessed. Subjects were placed in groups to reflect different levels of steps per day (average of 7 consecutive days): Group 1

Objetivou-se quantificar a intensidade da atividade física (AF) de crianças durante o recreio escolar (RE), comparar a AF entre os sexos e as influências sazonais. A amostra foi composta por 30 meninas (11,2 ± 1,3 anos) e 20 meninos (11,3 ± 0,8 anos). A frequência cardíaca foi monitorada durante três RE's consecutivos no inverno (INV) e na primavera (PRI) com intensidade da atividade sendo classificada em baixa, moderada e vigorosa. Foi utilizada a estatística descritiva para dados gerais, Teste T para amostras independentes para diferenças entre os sexos, teste T pareado para a sazonalidade. Foram verificadas diferenças entre as temperaturas de INV e PRI. As meninas apresentaram redução significativa da intensidade da AF de INV para PRI, fato não verificado entre os meninos. O RE representou uma pequena contribuição para recomendações diárias de AF. This study aimed to quantify the intensity of physical activity (PA) of children during school recess (SR), compare PA between genders and seasonal influences. The sample consisted of 30 girls (11.2 ± 1.3 years) and 20 boys (11.3 ± 0.8 years). Heart rate was monitored during three consecutive SR in the winter (WIN) and spring (SPR) with intensity of activity being classified as low, moderate and vigorous. Descriptive statistics for general data, T test for independent samples evaluated gender differences, paired T test for seasonality. Significant differences were found between the temperatures in WIN and SPR. The girls showed a significant reduction in PA from WIN to SPR, which was not observed among boys. The SR represented a small contribution to the daily recommendations of PA.

Introdução: A avaliação motora é uma importante ferramenta para verificação dos parâmetros de desenvolvimento motor, que se dá por meio do desempenho motor, considerado o nível atual de performance motora do indivíduo e pela capacidade de realizar tarefas motoras. Para isso algumas baterias motoras foram desenvolvidas com o propósito de avaliação. Porém, baseiam-se em diferentes constructos e populações-alvo. Objetivos: Verificar o nível de correlação entre as baterias motoras Escala de Desenvolvimento Motor, Movement Assessment Battery for Children Second Edition e Test of Gross Motor Development Second Edition, bem como, analisar se existem diferenças entre os sexos e se os desempenhos das crianças podem ser comparados nos três instrumentos. Casuística e Métodos: Participaram do estudo 172 crianças com idade entre 9 e 10 anos, sendo 67 meninos (X=9,51; DP=0,40 anos) e 105 meninas (X=9,44; DP=0,48 anos). Resultados: Verificou-se que os meninos apresentaram um melhor desempenho geral nas tarefas motoras quando comparado às meninas. Com a análise do escore Z, encontrou-se homogeneidade na distribuição dos escores dos testes, assim, as crianças apresentaram o mesmo nível de desempenho em todas as baterias. Quanto ao nível de correlação entre as três baterias averiguou-se que o escore geral do Movement Assessment Battery for Children Second Edition apresentou correlação positiva com o escore geral da Escala de Desenvolvimento Motor (r=0,30; p