Insight into physical activity in combating the infantile metabolic syndrome

Effect of Motor Competence and Health-Related Fitness in the Prevention of Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors

Purpose: In the last decades we have seen an increase in sedentary behaviors and a decrease in physical activity in children when compared to past generations. This lifestyle is commonly associated with the development of clustering risk factors that define metabolic syndrome (MetS). Knowing that motor competence (MC) development can influence lifelong physical activity habits, it is reasonable to assume that children's MC will directly link to clustered cardiometabolic health outcomes. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of MC in MetS risk factors. Methods: Seventy children with a mean age of 7.49 (SD = 1.28) years were evaluated on motor competence (MCA-Motor Competence Assessment instrument), cardiovascular fitness (PACER test), upper body strength (UBS; handgrip), and the components of MetS, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, abdominal obesity, low concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high fasting blood glucose. The composite value of MetS was calculated according to Burns et al. (2017). Multiple standard regressions were performed to explore the effect of different variables on MetS. Motor competence and health-related fitness (cardiovascular fitness and relative upper body strength) were used as independent variables (predictors) and MetS as dependent variable. Results: Overall, the results showed that motor competence (β = -.072; p < .05) is a significant predictor and this model explained 7,1% of the variance in MetS. Conclusion: Although more studies are needed, our results indicate that MC seems to have a positive role in children's health markers.

Association of daily steps on lipid and glycaemic profiles in children: The mediator role of cardiorespiratory fitness

AIM

To analyse, in schoolchildren, the relationship between daily steps with metabolic parameters; and to examine whether this association is mediated by cardiorespiratory-fitness (CRF).

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a feasibility trial was performed in children from two primary schools in Cuenca, Spain. Daily steps were measured using the Xiaomi MI Band 3. Lipid and glycaemic profiles were analysed from blood samples. CRF was assessed using the 20-m shuttle run test. ANCOVA models were used to test the mean differences by daily steps quartiles. Mediation analyses were conducted to examine whether CRF mediates the association between daily steps and lipid and glycaemic parameters.

RESULTS

A total of 159 schoolchildren (aged 9-12 years, 53% female) were included in the analysis. Schoolchildren in the highest daily steps quartiles (>10 000 steps) showed significantly lower triglycerides and insulin levels (p = 0.004 and 0.002, respectively). This association did not remain after controlling for CRF. In mediation analyses, a significant indirect effect was observed through CRF in the relationship between daily steps with triglycerides and insulin.

CONCLUSION

Children who daily accumulate more than 10 000 steps have better lipid and metabolic profile, and CRF mediated their relationship in schoolchildren.

The Effect of Equipment-Based Pilates (Reformer) Exercises on Body Composition, Some Physical Parameters, and Body Blood Parameters of Medical Interns

BACKGROUND

Pilates is a type of exercise that exerts positive effects on body composition and general health. This study set out to investigate the effects of equipment-based Pilates (reformer) exercise on body composition, some physical parameters, and blood parameters of medical interns showing a tendency toward sedentary life.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experimental group (EG) comprising 22 healthy internship students in the medical faculty performed Pilates reformer exercises for nine weeks. The control group (CG) consisted of 18 students who did not engage in any exercise program. The baseline and final parameters of all the participants were measured.

RESULTS

The mean age of the experimental group (EG) was 23.68±1.29 years, while that of the control group (CG) was 24.78±3.44 (p=0.089). A significant difference was evident between the performance pre-test and post-test scores of the EG (p<0.05). However, a significant positive difference was noted only between the waist pre-test and post-test results in the body composition measurements (p<0.05). A significant rise in HDL and fasting blood sugar levels and a decrease in insulin levels was observed in the post-exercise biochemical parameters measured in the EG (p=0.05). When the EG and CG were compared, a significant difference was found only in HDL cholesterol values in relation to the differences between the pre-test and the post-test groups (p=0.024).

CONCLUSION

The positive data from performance tests, especially with its HDL-increasing and insulin-lowering effects in the EG, implicate that Pilates reformer exercises can produce a favorable effect on the healthy living standards of medical interns.

Physical Improvement and Biological Maturity of Young Athletes (11-12 Years) with Systematic Training

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of systematic training in physical growth and biological maturity in prepubertal males and estimate how this affects the physical growth and skeletal maturity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

177 primary school students of the fifth and sixth grade, from schools in Alexandroupolis, participated voluntarily in our study. Questionnaires were used in order to measure physical activity levels. The subjects were subdivided into two groups; control group (prepubertal, whose physical activity was the physical education of their school and which had never participated in systematic training, n = 95) and experimental group (prepubertal, whose weekly physical activity included physical education in their schools and additionally 3-4 training units organized training in various sports clubs in the city, n = 82). The following parameters were recorded: biological age measured by determination of skeletal age; bone density measured by ultrasound methods; anthropometric and morphological features such as height, body composition, selected diameters, circumferences and skinfolds; motor ability features.

RESULTS

The experimental group exhibited older biological age (p = 0.033), higher bone density (p < 0.001), lower BMI and body fat (p < 0.001), better anthropometric features and higher performance throughout all motor ability tests (p < 0.05), compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrates that systematic physical activity has a positive effect on both the physical and biological maturity of pre-pubertal children. This effect is mainly expressed in bone strengthening as a result of the increased bone density and in improvement of the kinetic skills of pupils who participated in organized extracurricular sport-activities.

[Metabolic effects of exercise on childhood obesity: a current view]

OBJECTIVE

To review the current literature concerning the effects of physical exercise on several metabolic variables related to childhood obesity.

DATA SOURCES

A search was performed in Pubmed/Medline and Web of Science databases. The keywords used were as follows: Obesity, Children Obesity, Childhood Obesity, Exercise and Physical Activity. The online search was based on studies published in English, from April 2010 to December 2013.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Search queries returned 88,393 studies based on the aforementioned keywords; 4,561 studies were selected by crossing chosen keywords. After applying inclusion criteria, four studies were selected from 182 eligible titles. Most studies have found that aerobic and resistance training improves body composition, lipid profile and metabolic and inflammatory status of obese children and adolescents; however, the magnitude of the effects is associated with the type, intensity and duration of practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Regardless of type, physical exercise promotes positive adaptations to childhood obesity, mainly acting to restore cellular and cardiovascular homeostasis, to improve body composition, and to activate metabolism; therefore, physical exercise acts as a co-factor in combating obesity.