Socioeconomic and lifestyle determinants of body fat distribution in young working males from Cracow, Poland

Exercise-induced effects on asprosin and indices of atherogenicity and insulin resistance in males with metabolic syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) development is associated with insulin resistance and obesity, with the progression of visceral adipose tissue playing a crucial role. Excessive adipose tissue is accompanied by an increase in the asprosin (ASP), which is responsible for carbohydrate metabolism and the regulation of hunger and satiety. Exercise affects the release of ASP, which may regulate metabolism accordingly. Due to the inconclusive results of the effect of exercise on ASP concentration in men with MetS, 12-week interventions were carried out in the following groups: EG1-aerobic training (n = 21, age: 34.21 ± 6.06, WC; waist circumference: 114.7 ± 10.93) and EG2-a combination of aerobic and resistance training (n = 21, age: 37.37 ± 7.08, WC: 114.8 ± 11.64) and compared with a control group (CG) of men with MetS without any intervention (n = 20, age: 38.26 ± 7.43, WC: 115.3 ± 10.54). Body composition, indicators of carbohydrate-lipid metabolism, and ASP were assessed four times: before the intervention, at 6 and 12 weeks of training, and 4 weeks after the training sessions. A comparison of the intervention influence on changes in the analyzed variables between the groups was performed using ANOVA test for dependent groups with post-hoc comparison. The effect size (ES) was also assessed using squared eta (η2). The implementation of aerobic training resulted in a decrease in ASP concentration (p = 0.03) within 6 weeks of the intervention, while in the CG a gradual increase in ASP was confirmed (p < 0.001). Aerobic-resistance training did not induce significant changes in ASP concentration but resulted in an increase in fat-free mass/fat mass (FFM/FM) ratio (p < 0.001), and a decrease (p = 0.04) in Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Changes in the visceral adipose tissue level indicate a gradual decrease in both the EG1 (p = 0.01) and EG2 (p = 0.04) groups. Both aerobic and aerobic-resistance exercises may have a regulatory effect, mainly by reducing visceral adipose tissue, on the improvement of metabolic disorders.

The long-lasting effect of early life family structure on social position, well-being, and biological condition in adulthood

BACKGROUND

The absence of even one parent has short- and long-term effects on the child's current and future health. The purpose of the study was to determine whether there is a long-term relationship between the type of family in which men were raised and an individual's adult social position, well-being in adulthood and their biological condition regardless of social status in adulthood.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data for 4528 males, aged 25-80 years, were selected from the archives of the Lower Silesian Medical Centre in Wrocław, Poland. A total of 329 men declared that they grew up in incomplete families. Height, weight, % fat, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, blood parameters, and health of men who grew up in complete or incomplete families were compared.

RESULTS

Growing up in an incomplete family reduced chances for better education, decreased life satisfaction in adulthood, and negatively affected the final height. After taking into account the education achieved, the effect persisted only for diastolic blood pressure, creatinine, and serum phosphorus levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Growing up in an incomplete family has a significant impact on male's socioeconomic position (SES), life satisfaction, and final height. A poorer quality of diet is proposed as an early life risk factor for adult health.

Effect of Winter Outdoor Physical Activity on Body Composition and Motor Performance of Polish Adult Men

There is a relationship between physical activity and environmental factors, including weather conditions. Winter should not be a season in which physical activity is abandoned. Previous studies indicate that reducing the daily level of physical activity in adults has a negative impact on their motor proficiency and respiratory endurance, which subsequently translates into diminished quality of life. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of winter outdoor physical activity on somatic parameters, body composition, and motor performance of adult men (age 45.4 ± 5.9 years) involved in regular physical activity (physically active PA, n = 31) during the winter season (study group) compared to the control group of physically inactive men (PI, n = 22). Somatic parameters and selected parameters of motor fitness (Eurofit for Adults) were measured in both groups twice, at the beginning (pre) and at the end (post) of the winter season. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures and a post hoc LSD test were performed to evaluate the difference between the mean parameter values. In the PA group, a decrease in body fat mass, waist circumference, and abdominal obesity indicators, as well as an increase in skeletal muscle mass were confirmed. Improvements in motor performance parameters, i.e., flexibility, the speed of upper limb movements, hand and forearm muscle grip strength, the strength of the lower part of the torso, and cardiorespiratory endurance were also observed. Regular physical activity in the open air during the winter brings measurable health benefits, positively influencing the body composition and motor efficiency of adult men.

Exercise-Induced Alternations of Adiponectin, Interleukin-8 and Indicators of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Males with Metabolic Syndrome

Adiponectin (ADIPO) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) are proteins that play a significant, albeit opposing, role in metabolic syndrome (MetS). The reported data on the effect of physical activity on the levels of these hormones in the population of people with MetS are conflicting. The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in hormone concentrations, insulin-resistance indices and body composition after two types of training. The study included 62 men with MetS (age 36.6 ± 6.9 years, body fat [BF] = 37.53 ± 4.5%), randomly assigned to: an experimental group EG1 (n = 21) with aerobic exercise intervention, an experimental group EG2 (n = 21) with combined aerobic and resistance exercise intervention, both for 12 weeks, and a control group CG (n = 20) without interventions. Anthropometric measurements and body composition (fat-free mass [FFM], gynoid body fat [GYNOID]), as well as a biochemical blood analysis (adiponectin [ADIPO], interleukin-8 [IL-8], homeostatic model assessment-adiponectin (HOMA-AD) and homeostatic model assessment-triglycerides (HOMA-TG) were performed at baseline, and at 6 and 12 weeks of intervention and 4 weeks after the intervention (follow-up). Intergroup (between groups) and intragroup (within each group) changes were statistically evaluated. In the experimental groups EG1 and EG2, no significant changes were observed in the ADIPO concentration, but a decrease of GYNOID and insulin-resistance indices was confirmed. The aerobic training led to favorable changes in IL-8 concentration. The use of combined resistance and aerobic training led to improved body composition, decreased waist circumference and better insulin-resistance indices in men with MetS.

Impact of Two Types of Exercise Interventions on Leptin and Omentin Concentrations and Indicators of Lipid and Carbohydrate Metabolism in Males with Metabolic Syndrome

Leptin (LEP) and omentin (OMEN) are proteins whose concentrations change with the development of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). There are few intervention studies using various forms of physical activity in people with MetS that aim to determine the impact of physical exercise on the fluctuations of the presented hormones, and their results are contradictory. The present study aimed to examine the effect of two types of exercise intervention on LEP and OMEN concentrations and indicators of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in males with MetS. The study included 62 males with MetS (age 36.6 ± 6.9 years, body mass 110.31 ± 17.37 kg), randomly allocated to EG1, the examined group with aerobic training (n = 21); EG2, the examined group with combined aerobic and resistance training (n = 21), both for 12 weeks, and the control group (CG) without interventions (n = 20). Anthropometric measurements, body composition (body fat [BF], android body fat [ANDR]), as well as a biochemical blood analysis (omentin [OMEN], leptin [LEP], quantitative insulin sensitivity check index [QUICKI], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] and nonHDL-C) were performed at baseline, and at 6 and 12 weeks of interventions and after 4 weeks after ending intervention (follow-up). Intergroup and intragroup comparisons were performed. In the intervention groups EG1 and EG2, a decrease in BF was observed as well as an improvement in carbohydrate metabolism parameters. In the EG1 group, the level of ANDR was reduced. In EG2 a decrease in LEP concentration between measurements was confirmed. However, no significant changes were found in the concentration of OMEN in any groups. Combined aerobic and resistance exercises led to a higher reduction of LEP concentration than applying only aerobic training in males with MetS.

Effect of Exercise Interventions on Irisin and Interleukin-6 Concentrations and Indicators of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Males with Metabolic Syndrome

Irisin (IR) is a biomarker that is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, the available evidence on the association of IR, physical activity, and MetS status are contradictory. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise intervention on IR and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and indicators of carbohydrate metabolism in males with MetS. The study included 62 males with MetS (age 36.6 ± 6.9 years, BMI 33.6 ± 4.4 kg/m²) randomly assigned to: examined group 1 (EG1, n = 21) with aerobic exercise intervention, examined group 2 (EG2, n = 21) with combined aerobic and resistance exercise intervention, both for 12 weeks, and the control group (CG, n = 20) without intervention. Anthropometric measurements, body composition (body fat [BF], fat free mass [FFM]) as well as a biochemical blood analysis (irisin [IR], interleukin-6 [IL-6], insulin [INS] and glucose [GL]) were performed at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks of intervention, and 4 weeks after ending the intervention (follow-up). Intergroup and intragroup comparisons were performed. In EG1, an increase in IR level was observed as well as decreases in IL-6, BF, and GL levels in relation to the initial measurement. In EG2, decreases in IL-6, BF, and INS levels were observed as well as an increase in FFM level. In CG, no changes were found. Aerobic-resistance exercise led to a greater reduction in the concentrations of IL-6 and INS and more favorable changes in body composition (BF and FFM) than the use of aerobic training alone in males with MetS.

Neck and waist circumference values according to sex, age, and body-mass index: Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

Body fat distribution predicts cardiovascular events better than body-mass index (BMI). Waist circumference (WC) and neck circumference (NC) are inexpensive anthropometric measurements. We aimed to present the conditional distribution of WC and NC values according to BMI, stratified by age and sex, from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) baseline data. We analyzed 15,085 ELSA-Brasil participants with complete data. We used spline quantile regression models, stratified by sex and age, to estimate the NC and WC quantiles according to BMI. To test a putative association between age and median NC or WC values, we built sex-specific median regression models using both BMI and age as explanatory variables. We present estimated 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles for NC and WC values, according to BMI, age, and sex. Predicted interquartile intervals for NC values varied from 1.6 to 3.8 cm and, for WC values, from 5.1 to 10.3 cm. Median NC was not associated with age in men (P=0.11) nor in women (P=0.79). However, median WC increased with advancing age in both sexes (P<0.001 for both). There was significant dispersion in WC and NC values for a given BMI and age strata for both men and women. WC, but not NC values, were associated with increasing age. The smaller influence of advancing age on the relationship between BMI and NC (compared to WC) values may be useful in longitudinal studies.

Prevalence and risk factors of abdominal obesity in Polish rural children

Secular trends of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference indicate greater increase in abdominal obesity compared to general obesity. Determinants of obesity described by BMI are relatively well documented in various populations, unlike abdominal obesity described by waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). The aim of the study was to determine prevalence and abdominal obesity (WHtR) risk factors in a cohort of 3048 rural children aged 7-12 years from southern Poland. Biological, socio-demographic and lifestyle factors were analysed, and odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated using a logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of abdominal obesity in rural boys and girls in the sample was 11% and 9% respectively. Obesity in both parents, irregular breakfasts, irregular meals during the day and regularly consumed tea were significant factors of abdominal obesity risks in rural girls. Being the only child, low number of people in a household, obesity in both parents, high energy-dense food index and no exercise significantly increased the risk of abdominal obesity in rural boys. The study demonstrated tendencies similar to other European countries in the prevalence of abdominal obesity among sexes. Lifestyle behaviours should be changed and adapted to each sex since risk factors differ between the sexes and indicate higher eco-sensitivity in boys.

Relationship of Social and Lifestyle Factors with Central Fat Distribution Expressed by the Aggregate Fat Distribution Index

Abdominal obesity is caused by several factors and the explanation of the level of its variability also depends on anthropometric indexes applied for its assessment. The aim was to determine the degree of explanation of the abdominal adiposity variation, presented by the aggregate fat distribution index (AFDI), through the socio-economic status and lifestyle. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted on a sample of 259 healthy working males aged 20-30 from the city of Cracow, Poland. A full model was created using a stepwise backward regression with the social and lifestyle data as independent variables and the AFDI as a dependent variable. The AFDI was created by unitarization applied to selected characteristics of fat distribution which were transformed into [0,1] interval (without measurement unit) and then added and averaged to form a composite index. The highest autonomous influence on AFDI is ascribed to age (b = 0.2456 p = 0.000), level of motor fitness b=−0.2392 p=0.000), leisure time physical activity (b=−0.1353 p=0.000) and being born in a rural area (b=0.1300 p=0.000). The variables explain 17% (R2=0.1667) of the variation of the central fat distribution. Variation of the abdominal adiposity was explained with the use of AFDI at the level close to the commonly applied indexes.