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Giontella A, Tagetti A, Bonafini S, Marcon D, Cattazzo F, Bresadola I, Antoniazzi F, Gaudino R, Cavarzere P, Montagnana M, Pietrobelli A, Maffeis C, Minuz P, Fava C. Comparison of Performance in the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) between Overweight/Obese and Normal-Weight Children and Association with Haemodynamic Parameters: A Cross-Sectional Study in Four Primary Schools. Nutrients 2024; 16:356. [PMID: 38337641 PMCID: PMC10857357 DOI: 10.3390/nu16030356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Physical activity plays a pivotal role in preventing obesity and cardiovascular risks. The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a tool to assess functional capacity and predict cardiovascular events. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the performance and haemodynamic parameters before and after a 6MWT between obese/overweight vs. normal-weight children (average age 8.7 ± 0.7 years) participating in a project involving four primary schools in South Verona (Italy). Validated questionnaires for physical activity and diet, as well as blood drops, were collected. Overweight or obese children (OW&OB; n = 100) covered a shorter 6MWT distance compared to normal-weight children (NW, n = 194). At the test's conclusion, the OW&OB group exhibited a higher Rate Pulse Product (RPP = Systolic Blood Pressure × Heart Rate) as compared to the NW. Body Mass Index, waist-to-height ratio, fat mass by electrical impedance, and trans fatty acids showed direct correlations with pre and post-test haemodynamic parameters, such as RPP, and inverse correlations with oxygen saturation. OW&OB children demonstrated lower performance in this low-intensity exercise test, along with an elevated haemodynamic response. Excess fat in childhood can be considered a risk factor for haemodynamic stress, with potential deleterious consequences later in life. Efforts should be initiated early to break this cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Giontella
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (A.G.); (A.T.); (D.M.); (F.C.); (I.B.); (P.M.); (C.F.)
| | - Angela Tagetti
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (A.G.); (A.T.); (D.M.); (F.C.); (I.B.); (P.M.); (C.F.)
| | - Sara Bonafini
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (A.G.); (A.T.); (D.M.); (F.C.); (I.B.); (P.M.); (C.F.)
| | - Denise Marcon
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (A.G.); (A.T.); (D.M.); (F.C.); (I.B.); (P.M.); (C.F.)
| | - Filippo Cattazzo
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (A.G.); (A.T.); (D.M.); (F.C.); (I.B.); (P.M.); (C.F.)
| | - Irene Bresadola
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (A.G.); (A.T.); (D.M.); (F.C.); (I.B.); (P.M.); (C.F.)
| | - Franco Antoniazzi
- Department of Surgical, Odontostomatological and Maternal-Infantile Sciences, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy; (F.A.); (R.G.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Rossella Gaudino
- Department of Surgical, Odontostomatological and Maternal-Infantile Sciences, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy; (F.A.); (R.G.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Paolo Cavarzere
- Department of Surgical, Odontostomatological and Maternal-Infantile Sciences, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy; (F.A.); (R.G.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Martina Montagnana
- Department of Engineering for Innovative Medicine, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy;
| | - Angelo Pietrobelli
- Department of Surgical, Odontostomatological and Maternal-Infantile Sciences, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy; (F.A.); (R.G.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (C.M.)
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA
| | - Claudio Maffeis
- Department of Surgical, Odontostomatological and Maternal-Infantile Sciences, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy; (F.A.); (R.G.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Pietro Minuz
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (A.G.); (A.T.); (D.M.); (F.C.); (I.B.); (P.M.); (C.F.)
| | - Cristiano Fava
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (A.G.); (A.T.); (D.M.); (F.C.); (I.B.); (P.M.); (C.F.)
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