The relationships between bone variables and physical fitness across the BMI spectrum in young adult women

Physical fitness and maternal body composition indices during pregnancy and postpartum: the GESTAFIT project

We explored the association of physical fitness (PF) during pregnancy with maternal body composition indices along pregnancy and postpartum period. The study comprised 159 pregnant women (32.9 ± 4.7 years old). Assessments were carried out at the 16th and 34th gestational weeks (g.w.) and six weeks postpartum. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular strength (absolute and relative values) and flexibility were measured. Body composition indices were obtained by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at postpartum. The results, after adjusting for potential covariates at the 16th g.w., indicated that greater CRF was associated with lower postpartum indices total fat mass, android and gynoid fat mass (all, p < 0.05). Greater absolute upper-body muscular strength was associated with greater pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG); and postpartum indices body weight, BMI, lean mass, fat free mass, fat mass, gynoid fat mass, T-score and Z-score bone mineral density (BMD) (all, p < 0.05). Greater upper-body flexibility was associated with lower pre-pregnancy BMI; and postpartum indices body weight, BMI, lean mass, fat free mass, fat mass, android fat mass and gynoid fat mass, and with greater GWG (all, p < 0.05). At the 34th g.w., greater CRF was additionally associated with greater postpartum T-score and Z-score BMD (both, p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study reveals that greater PF levels, especially during early pregnancy, may promote a better body composition in the postpartum period. Therefore, clinicians and health promoters should encourage women to maintain or improve PF levels from early pregnancy.

Biochemical, hematologic, and skeletal features associated with underweight, overweight, and eating disorders in young Korean women: A population-based study

BACKGROUND

Extreme weight conditions in young women are associated with adverse health outcomes. Closely linked with extreme weight status, eating disorders (EDs) are associated with several medical complications and high mortality rates.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to investigate the biochemical, hematologic, and skeletal features of young Korean women with underweight (UW) and overweight/obesity (OW) conditions, and patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) compared to women with normal-weight (NW).

METHOD

A total of 808 women (mean age 22.3 ± 3.4 years) were recruited for the study, including 144 with UW status [body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 kg/m²], 364 with NW, 137 with OW or obesity (27 with obesity; BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²), 63 patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), and 100 with bulimia nervosa (BN). We measured blood pressure and performed biochemical, hematologic and bone mineral density (BMD) evaluations at the lumbar and femoral neck.

RESULTS

Blood pressure and triiodothyronine levels were found to be lower in both ED groups and higher in the OW group, but no difference in the UW group, compared to the NW group. The aminotransferases and total cholesterol levels were higher in the ED and OW groups, compared to the NW group. Blood cell counts were decreased in the AN group, while increased in the OW group, compared to the NW group. Blood urea nitrogen was elevated in both ED groups. The UW and AN groups had lower BMD, whereas the OW group had higher BMD, compared to the NW group.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggested that both ED groups were associated with decreases in the resting energy expenditure. OW status was associated with a risk of metabolic syndrome, and UW status with lower BMD in young women. Overall, the medical parameters in Korean patients with ED were similar to the patterns reported in Western samples in previous studies, with few exceptions such as potassium level in BN.

Amateur ballet practicing, body image and eating behaviors: a comparative study of classical ballet dancers, gym users and sedentary women

BACKGROUND

Ballet dancers are a risk group for body image (BI) distortion, dissatisfaction and eating disorders (ED), but few studies have investigated these aspects in amateur adult practitioners. This study aimed to evaluate if amateur female adult classical ballet dancers presented different BI and behaviors for ED than gym users and sedentary women.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study where classical ballet dancers (n = 19) were compared to gym users (n = 19) and sedentary women (n = 19). Body mass index (BMI) was assessed, and a figure rating scale was applied to assess BI distortion/dissatisfaction. The body shape questionnaire (BSQ) was used to measure BI concern. The eating attitudes test (EAT-26) and the bulimic investigatory test, Edinburgh (BITE) were used for behaviors toward anorexia and bulimia.

RESULTS

BMI was significantly lower in ballet dancers than gym users and sedentary women (F, p = .04). BI distortion did not differ among the studied groups. BI dissatisfaction was lower (X2, p = .041) in ballet dancers (75.0%) and gym users (70.6%) compared to sedentary women (100%). Correspondence analysis showed ballet dancers were mostly not concerned with BI, which was not observed among the other groups. The EAT-26 did not differ between the studied groups. The BITE score was lower (Tukey's post hoc test, p = .005) in the ballet dancers [mean 5.3 (5.6)] compared to the sedentary women [mean 10.9 (4.8)].

CONCLUSIONS

Data suggest that amateur classical ballet practicing is associated to better BI and fewer behaviors for ED in the studied population. The lower BMI in ballet dancers might explain these findings, and further studies should explore these associations.

Phase angle associated with different indicators of health-related physical fitness in adults with obesity

In obese populations, the exacerbated increase in adipose tissue results in a significant reduction of health-related physical fitness and can affect the phase angle (PhA), a promising health indicator of cell health and integrity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of PhA with health-related physical fitness indicators in obese adults. This cross-sectional study had a non-probabilistic sample and was conducted from April to June 2018. The PhA was obtained by a bioelectrical impedance analysis, and the health-related physical fitness indicators evaluated were percentage of body fat (%BF), lower- and upper-body maximal strength, cardiorespiratory fitness (relative V̇O2peak), and flexibility. Pearson and Spearman´s linear correlations, crude and adjusted linear regression analyses were performed. A total of 69 obese adults (60.8% female; BMI = 33.5 ± 2.8 kg/m²) with a mean age of 34.6 ± 7.1 years were studied. The PhA means were 5.8 (±0.6º) and had an inverse correlation with %BF (r=-0.74; p<0.001) and positive correlation with V̇O2peak (r=0.50; p<0.001), lower- and upper-body maximal strength (r=0.65; r=0.70; p<0.001, respectively). After adjustment, %BF (β=-0.065, adjusted R²=0.53; p<0.001), lower- and upper-body maximal strength (β=0.004; adjusted R²=0.46; p<0.001, and β=0.024; adjusted R²=0.50; p<0.001, respectively) were predictors of PhA. Our results suggest the favorable role of PhA as a clinically viable tool to screen and identify the physical fitness variables and functional status of obese adults.