Feasibility Study: Colombian Caribbean Folk Dances to Increase Physical Fitness and Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Women.

The objectives of the study were to describe the feasibility of an intervention in older women based on folk dances of the Colombian Caribbean region, and to analyze the effects of the intervention on physical fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A pilot study was conducted in a sample of 27 participants, 15 in the intervention group (IG) and 12 in the comparison group (CG). Caribbean Colombian dance rhythms were introduced as an intervention that lasted 12 weeks. Recruitment and retention was not optimal. Treatment fidelity components indicated that intervention was administered as intended. IG participants showed positive and statistically significant changes in some components of physical fitness. No significant changes were observed in HRQoL indicators for either group. In conclusion, the intervention was feasible, but recruitment and retention was challenging. Folk dances of the Colombian Caribbean region provoked significant results in physical fitness but not in HRQoL.

Conglomeración de precursores de tensión arterial elevada en adolescentes / Conglomeration of high blood pressure precursors in adolescents

Introducción: La tensión arterial elevada y los precursores de enfermedad cardiovascular, pueden iniciarse en la infancia y mantenerse hasta la adultez. Estos precursores ocurren frecuentemente en conglomerado. Objetivos: Analizar la conglomeración de precursores de tensión arterial alta en adolescentes y determinar la asociación de la frecuencia acumulada de estos con la tensión arterial elevada. Métodos: Estudio transversal en una muestra de 546 escolares de 11 a 18 años de la ciudad de Montería. Se tomaron medidas de tensión arterial, índice de masa corporal, perímetro abdominal, capacidad cardiorrespiratoria, niveles de actividad física y comportamientos sedentarios. Las asociaciones entre tensión arterial elevada y frecuencia acumulada de precursores fueron exploradas con modelos de regresión logística. Resultados: La combinación de precursores más frecuente fue la presencia de dos precursores, inactividad física y tiempo excesivo de televisión (30,3%). Le siguen la aparición simultánea de tres precursores, baja capacidad cardiorrespiratoria, inactividad física y tiempo excesivo de televisión (18,3%). Aquellos adolescentes con dos o más precursores presentaron cifras de tensión arterial significativamente más altas en comparación con aquellos en quienes se encontró una acumulación menor de precursores. La tensión arterial elevada se asocia de manera significativa con la acumulación de precursores. Conclusión: La conglomeración de dos o más precursores se asoció de manera significativa con la tensión arterial elevada, hallazgos que indican que se requieren intervenciones para reducir la presencia y acumulación de los precursores estudiados y así prevenir la adquisición de cifras de tensión arterial elevada en los adolescentes de Montería.

Introduction: High blood pressure and cardiovascular disease precursors may start in childhood and continue until adulthood. Usually these precursors occur in cluster. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to analyze the cluster of high blood pressure precursors and to analyze the association of the cumulative frequency of these precursors with high blood pressure. Methods: Cross-sectional study in a sample of 546 students aged 11 to 18 years in the city of Montería. Blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity and sedentary lifestyle were measured. The associations between high blood pressure and the cumulative frequency of precursors were explored with logistic regression models. Results: The most frequently found combination of precursors was the presence of two precursors, physical inactivity and excessive TV time (30.3%). It follows the simultaneous occurrence of three precursors: low cardiorespiratory fitness, physical inactivity, and excessive TV time (18.3%). Those adolescents with two or more precursors showed a significantly higher occurrence of high blood pressure compared to those in whom a lower accumulation of precursors was found. The occurrence of high blood pressure is significantly associated with the accumulation of precursors. Conclusion: The conglomeration of two or more precursors was significantly associated with the occurrence of high blood pressure. These findings indicate that interventions are needed to reduce the occurrence and accumulation of precursors studied, as well as to prevent the acquisition of high blood pressure in adolescents of Montería.

Screen time, cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity among school-age children from Monteria, Colombia.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the association between electronic media exposure (television viewing time, personal computer/video game use, total screen time), and waist circumference and body mass index, and study whether this association is independent of cardiorespiratory fitness, in a representative sample of adolescents from Montería, Colombia. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study analyzing data from 546 students aged 11-18 years, from fourteen randomly selected schools. Z-scores for WC and BMI were calculated. METHODS: The physical activity module of the Global School Health Survey 2007 was used to determine EME, and the shuttle run test was used to assess CRF. Linear regression models adjusted by age, school location, physical activity level, type of institution (public or private), consumption of sweetened beverages, fast food, and fried food were used. RESULTS: Among boys, independently of cardiorespiratory fitness, high television viewing time (≥ 2 h/day) (ß=+0.22; p<0.02), was positively associated with waist circumference. High total screen time (>3h/day) was positively associated with waist circumference (ß=+0.34; p<0.01), and body mass index (ß=+0.39; p<0.01). Among girls, sedentary behavior was not associated with adiposity, but cardiorespiratory fitness (ß=-0.04; p<0.02) was negatively associated with body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the evidence on the negative impact of excessive electronic media exposure and low cardiorespiratory fitness, and highlight the need for interventions and prevention strategies.