Effects of a physical education intervention on children's physical activity and fitness: the PROFIT pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Physical education classes are widely accepted as one of the most effective settings for promoting physical activity and health and have often been used to implement physical activity interventions. The aim of this pilot study was to test a physical education intervention program on physical activity levels and physical fitness in a sample of school-age children. METHODS: Participants were a convenience sample of 50 children (34 experimental group and 16 in the comparative group) aged between 6 and 11 years old (Mean = 8.28 years). A 21-week intervention was implemented, consisting of high-intensity and physical fitness-focused exercises, in addition to a once-a-month extra class nutritional education. The following variables were evaluated before and post-intervention: physical fitness, sedentary behavior (SB), light physical activity (LPA), moderate physical activity (MVA), and vigorous physical activity (VPA). Propensity score analyses calculated the average treatment effect on the treated (ATET) within a quasi-experimental framework. RESULTS: Physical fitness variables showed improvements after the intervention, specifically for agility (ATET = -0.67 s; p < 0.001), cardiorespiratory fitness (ATET = 89.27 m; p = 0.045), lower limbs power (ATET = 4.47 centimeters; p = 0.025), and speed (ATET = -1.06 s; p < 0.001). For physical activity and SB levels, there were no improvements after intervention implementation. CONCLUSION: The intervention program showed preliminary effectiveness to improve physical fitness of children, but not SB nor physical activity.

The Longitudinal Association of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Adiposity With Clustered Cardiometabolic Risk: A Mediation Analysis.

PURPOSE: Previous literature has demonstrated the mediating role of adiposity in the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and cardiometabolic risk as well as the potential role of CRF in attenuating the adverse consequences associated with excess weight. This study aimed to evaluate the mediating role of CRF and adiposity in the possible association with cardiometabolic risk. METHOD: Observational 3-year longitudinal study that included 420 children and adolescents (10.50 [2.05] y of age at baseline; 56.2% girls). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and CRF was evaluated using field assessments. A clustered cardiometabolic risk score (cMetS) was calculated from glucose, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, and triglycerides z scores. Analyses evaluated the mediating role of BMI in the association between CRF and cMetS as well as whether CRF mediated the association between BMI and cMetS. RESULTS: BMI at baseline was directly associated with the cMetS at follow-up (0.102; 95% confidence interval, 0.020 to 0.181), independently of CRF, whereas CRF was only indirectly associated with cMetS at follow-up through BMI (-0.036; 95% confidence interval, -0.070 to -0.009), meaning that the association between CRF and cMetS was explained via the mediation role of BMI. CONCLUSIONS: BMI presented direct association with cMetS, whereas CRF exhibited indirect association with cMetS mediated via BMI.

Integrated role of lifestyle habits in cardiometabolic risk factors according to sex in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: A healthy lifestyle should be adopted by young people to maintain cardiometabolic health. AIM: To verify the prevalence and the integrated role of lifestyle habits in cardiometabolic risk factors according to sex in adolescents. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study developed with 1502 adolescents, aged 10-17 years. Lifestyle habits included physical activity, screen time and sleep duration evaluated through a questionnaire. Cardiometabolic risk score (CMRS) was calculated by summing z-scores, divided by 6. For statistical analyses, multivariable binary and multinomial logistic regression models were used. RESULTS: 80.7% of the boys classified with adverse CMRS presented physical inactivity, compared to normal CMRS. In girls, 42.6% showed inadequate sleep compared to normal CMRS. Boys classified as inactive showed higher odds for obesity, as well as altered triglycerides (TGs), and systolic blood pressure, risk for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), high waist circumference, and CMRS, compared to the active. A prolonged screen time increased the odds for altered glucose and decreased the odds for altered TGs. In girls, inadequate sleep duration presented higher odds for overweight, obesity, risk for CRF, and high CMRS, compared to adequate sleep. CONCLUSION: Physical activity for boys and sleep duration for girls are important to maintain healthy metabolic health amongst youth.

Physical fitness attenuates the genetic predisposition to obesity in children and adolescents.

Obesity is an important risk factor associated with non-communicable cardiometabolic diseases. Previous studies have indicated that children and adolescents with a predisposed genetic risk for obesity could benefit from an active lifestyle, but there are no studies investigating whether physical fitness moderates the association of genetics and obesity. The aim of this study was to verify the moderating role of physical fitness in the relationship between genetic risk score (GRS) and body mass index (BMI) in children and adolescents. This cross-sectional study was carried out with 1471 children and adolescents, aged between 6 and 17 years from Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil. Weight and height were assessed to determine BMI. Physical fitness components (cardiorespiratory fitness [CRF], lower limb strength [LLS], upper limb strength, and abdominal strength) were evaluated. The GRS was based on previously associated obesity single-nucleotide polymorphism rs9939609 (FTO), rs6548238 (TMEM18), and rs16835198 (FNDC5). Moderation analyses were tested using linear regression models, and the interactions were represented by physical fitness components X GRS (categorical variable). All analyses were adjusted for skin color/ethnicity, sex, and sexual maturation. Significant interactions for CRF (P = 0.041), LLS (P = 0.041), and abdominal strength (P = 0.046) X 5 and 6 risk alleles with BMI were found only in adolescents. In addition, there was evidence that fitness components attenuated the high genetic predisposition to high BMI. Physical fitness components are moderators in the relationship between GRS and BMI in adolescents. These findings highlight the need for interventions targeting to improve this aspect, which is an important health indicator in all ages.

Reciprocal Longitudinal Relationship Between Fitness, Fatness, and Metabolic Syndrome in Brazilian Children and Adolescents: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study.

PURPOSE: To verify the reciprocal longitudinal relationships between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), percentage body fat (%body fat), and metabolic syndrome in Brazilian primary school students. METHOD: This longitudinal study involved 420 children and adolescents followed for 3 years (2011-2014). The continuous Metabolic Syndrome (cMetSyn) score was calculated by summing adjusted z scores of glucose, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, triglycerides, and waist circumference. The CRF was assessed using running/walking tests, and %body fat was assessed through sex-specific 2-site skinfold thickness. Cross-lagged panel models were used to analyze longitudinal reciprocal relationships between CRF and %body fat with cMetSyn. RESULTS: Results indicated that 2011 %body fat significantly predicted both 2014 CRF scores and 2014 cMetSyn scores (P < .001); however, 2011 CRF only predicted 2014 %body fat (P < .001) but not 2014 cMetSyn (P = .103). Furthermore, 2011 cMetSyn predicted 2014 %body fat (P = .002). The model explained 36%, 48%, and 37% of the variance in 2014 CRF, %body fat, and cMetSyn, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results suggest a reciprocal inverse relationship between %body fat and metabolic syndrome risk and that %body fat may play a more important role in the risk of developing metabolic syndrome compared with CRF.

Moderating Influence of Home Location and School Type Across Time on Cardiometabolic Risk and Active School Commuting: A Five-Year Longitudinal Study.

Background: We examined the moderating influence of home location and school type across time on cardiometabolic risk and active school commuting over 5 years in a sample of children from southern Brazil. Methods: We recruited a sample of children (n = 154; baseline age = 9.6 ± 1.5 years old; 56.8% female) who were followed for 5 years from 2011/2012 to 2016/2017. We collected home location, school type, and school commute data using self-report methods and collected cardiometabolic risk measures to calculate a cardiometabolic composite risk score (cMetSyn). General and generalized linear mixed effects models were employed to examine the moderating influence of home location and school type across time on cardiometabolic risk and active school commuting. Results: We found a significant three-way home location × school type × time interaction on cMetSyn scores (b = 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.13-1.12, p = 0.014), indicating that children who were living within rural areas and enrolled in state schools during 2016/2017 had higher cardiometabolic risk compared with children enrolled in municipal schools and living in urban areas at the end of the study. Additionally, we found that children living in rural areas had an 86% lower rate of active school commuting compared with students living in urban areas (rate ratio = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.07-0.32, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results suggest that Brazilian children enrolled in state schools and living in rural areas had higher cardiometabolic risk scores at the end of the study and that southern Brazilian children residing in rural areas had a much lower rate of actively commuting to school.

Incidence of Arterial Hypertension is Associated with Adiposity in Children and Adolescents. / Incidência de Hipertensão Arterial está Associada com Adiposidade em Crianças e Adolescentes.

BACKGROUND: The increase of hypertension in children and adolescents has attracted the attention of the scientific community largely due to its association with the obesity epidemic. OBJECTIVES: To describe the incidence of hypertension and its relationship with the cardiometabolic and genetic profile in children and adolescents from a city in southern Brazil in a three-year period. METHODS: This longitudinal study followed 469 children and adolescents, aged 7-17 years old (43.1% boys), assessed at two-time points. We evaluated systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP), waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (%BF), lipid profile, glucose, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and rs9939609 Polymorphism ( FTO ). Cumulative incidence of hypertension was calculated, and multinomial logistic regression was conducted. The statistical significance was established as p < 0.05. RESULTS: After three years, the incidence of hypertension was 11.5%. Overweight or obese individuals were more likely to become borderline hypertensive (overweight OR: 3.22, 95% CI: 1.08-9.55; obesity OR: 4.05, 95% CI: 1.68-9.75), and obese individuals were more likely to become hypertensive (obesity OR: 4.84, 95% CI: 1.57-14.95). High-risk WC and %BF values were associated with hypertension development (OR: 3.41, 95% CI: 1.26-9.19; OR: 2.49, 95% CI: 1.08-5.75, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We found a higher incidence of hypertension in children and adolescents as compared with previous studies. Individuals with higher values of BMI, WC and %BF at baseline were more likely to develop hypertension, suggesting the importance of adiposity in the development of hypertension even in such a young population.

FUNDAMENTO: O aumento de hipertensão em crianças e adolescentes tem atraído a atenção da comunidade científica, especialmente por sua associação com a epidemia da obesidade. OBJETIVOS: Descrever a incidência de hipertensão e sua relação com o perfil cardiometabólico e genético em crianças e adolescentes de uma cidade do sul do Brasil em um período de três anos. MÉTODOS: Este estudo longitudinal acompanhou 469 crianças e adolescentes com idade entre 7 e 17 anos (43,1% do sexo masculino), avaliados em dois momentos. Avaliamos pressão arterial sistólica (PAS), pressão arterial diastólica (PAD), circunferência da cintura (CC), índice de massa corporal (IMC), porcentagem de gordura corporal (%GC), perfil lipídico, glicemia, aptidão cardiorrespiratória (APCR), e polimorfismo rs9939609 (gene FTO ) ( fat mass and obesity - associated gene ). A incidência cumulativa da hipertensão foi calculada, e realizada regressão logística multinominal. A diferença estatística foi estabelecida em p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Após três anos, a incidência de hipertensão foi de 11,5%. Indivíduos com sobrepeso e indivíduos obesos apresentaram maior probabilidade de se tornarem indivíduos classificados como borderline para hipertensão (sobrepeso OR: 3,22; IC95%: 1,08-9,55; obesidade OR: 4,05; IC95%: 1,68-9,75), e indivíduos obesos apresentaram maior probabilidade de se tornarem hipertensos (obesidade OR: 4,84; IC95%: 1,57-14,95). Valores de CC e de %GC considerados de alto risco foram associados com o desenvolvimento de hipertensão (OR: 3,41; IC95%: 126-9,19; OR: 2,49, IC95%: 1,08-5,75, respectivamente). CONCLUSÃO: Encontramos uma incidência de hipertensão em crianças e adolescentes mais alta em comparação a estudos anteriores. Indivíduos com valores mais altos de IMC, CC e %GC no baseline apresentaram maior probabilidade de desenvolverem hipertensão, sugerindo a importância da adiposidade no desenvolvimento de hipertensão, mesmo em uma população tão jovem.

From pregnancy to breastfeeding: adequate maternal body mass index is essential to prevent a high body mass index in your children.

OBJECTIVES: To verify the associations between prenatal and perinatal factors with offspring body mass index (BMI) and the moderator role of maternal BMI in this relationship. METHODS: Cross-sectional study developed with 1,562 children and adolescents aged between 6 and 17 years, as well as their mothers, from southern Brazil. The prenatal and perinatal factors, weight, and height for the calculation of maternal BMI were self-reported. For the calculation of BMI, weight and height of the child/adolescent were measured on an anthropometric scale with a coupled stadiometer. Linear regression models were used for the moderation analysis. All analyzes were adjusted for the mother's and child's age, sex, sexual maturation, skin color/race, and educational level. RESULTS: cesarean as type of delivery (ß=0.66; 95% CI=0.22 1.04; p=0.002) and pregnancy complications (ß=0.60; 95% CI=0.15 1.04; p=0.002) were positively associated with offspring BMI. Schoolchildren who were breastfed for 4-6 months showed -0.56 kg/m2 of BMI (95% CI=-1.06-0.06; p=0.02). Birth weight was also associated with BMI, with low weight being inversely (ß=-0.59; 95% CI=-1.03-0.15; p=0.008), while overweight was positively related (ß=0.84; 95% CI=0.08 1.60; p=0.02). The moderation analysis indicated a positive interaction between the mother's BMI and cesarean, pregnancy complications, and smoking with the offspring's BMI. On the other hand, there was an inverse association between breastfeeding from 7 to 12 months and the offspring BMI, only in mothers with high BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate maternal BMI is essential to prevent a high BMI in their children, especially when considering the influence of prenatal and perinatal risk factors.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE SCREEN TIME AND THE CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS WITH THE PRESENCE OF METABOLIC RISK IN SCHOOLCHILDREN.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the association between screen time and cardiorespiratory fitness with the presence of metabolic risk in schoolchildren in an isolated and clustered manner. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 1.200 schoolchildren from Santa Cruz do Sul-RS. Screen time and cardiorespiratory fitness were evaluated. The continuous metabolic risk score was calculated by summing the Z score of the waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C). RESULTS: Children (34.3%) and adolescents (48.2%) had high screen time, while 44.3% of the children and 53.3% of the adolescents were unfit in relation to cardiorespiratory fitness. Regarding the relation of screen time/cardiorespiratory fitness, 14.7% of the children and 26.9% of the adolescents presented high screen time and low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness. The presence of metabolic risk was shown in children (17.1%) and adolescents (14.7%). The presence of metabolic risk was directly associated with low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness in children and adolescents. When analyzed in clusters, the metabolic risk in children was 11% more prevalent in subjects with low screen time/unfit and 12% in subjects with high screen time/unfit, whereas in adolescents, the prevalence of metabolic risk was also higher in those with low screen time/unfit (8%) and high screen time/unfit (7%). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of metabolic risk in children and adolescents was associated with low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, independent of screen time, in an isolated or clustered manner.

Youth overweight/obesity and its relationship with cardiovascular disease and parental risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is gradually increasing in both developed and developing countries. Obesity, for instance, can present multifactorial causes that interact with each other. Among the important factors, parental obesity plays a prominent role in the onset of obesity during childhood and teenage years through genetics and ambient aspects. This study aims to verify the possible existence of an association between overweight/obesity of schoolchildren and cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors for their parents. SUBJETCS AND METHODS: For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 1,243 children and adolescents, aged between 7 and 17. Out of the total number of participants, 563 (45.3%) were boys who were selected across 19 schools in the urban and rural areas of Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). The overweight/obesity status of the schoolchildren was evaluated through their body mass index (BMI). Additionally, a self-reference questionnaire was employed to measure their parents' CVR. RESULTS: The results of this study revealed that students with overweight/obesity have a higher probability of having a father with hypertension (OR = 1.49; p = 0.038) and obesity (OR = 2.36; p = 0.002) and a mother with obesity (OR = 1.72; p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: To conclude, this study confirms a relationship between overweight/obesity of schoolchildren with CVR for their parents.

High blood pressure in schoolchildren: Associated sociodemographic and biochemical factors. / Pressão arterial elevada em escolares: fatores sociodemográficos e bioquímicos associados.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Pediatric hypertension has increased in the last decade, and it is thus crucial to identify the factors associated with the development of high blood pressure (BP) and other cardiovascular disorders. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between high BP and sociodemographic and biochemical factors in schoolchildren. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1201 children and adolescents, between seven and 17 years old, of both sexes. The sociodemographic data analyzed were gender, age, school system and socioeconomic status. Among biochemical indicators, blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) were assessed. In the analysis of BP, schoolchildren were classified as normal, borderline or hypertensive. Associations were tested using Poisson regression through prevalence ratios (PR). RESULTS: High BP was identified in 16.2% of the students. In females, the prevalence of high BP was 7% lower than in males (p=0.001), but was higher among adolescents (PR: 1.11, p<0.001) and schoolchildren in the state school system (PR: 1.05; p=0.013). Concerning biochemical indicators, BP change was associated with pre-diabetes (PR: 1.09; p=0.001) and borderline HDL-C (PR: 1.09; p=0.007). CONCLUSION: Among the sociodemographic factors associated with high BP are male gender, adolescence and attending the state education system. This condition was also associated with pre-diabetes and borderline HDL-C.

Incidência de Hipertensão Arterial está Associada com Adiposidade em Crianças e Adolescentes / Incidence of Arterial Hypertension is Associated with Adiposity in Children and Adolescents

Resumo Fundamento O aumento de hipertensão em crianças e adolescentes tem atraído a atenção da comunidade científica, especialmente por sua associação com a epidemia da obesidade. Objetivos Descrever a incidência de hipertensão e sua relação com o perfil cardiometabólico e genético em crianças e adolescentes de uma cidade do sul do Brasil em um período de três anos. Métodos Este estudo longitudinal acompanhou 469 crianças e adolescentes com idade entre 7 e 17 anos (43,1% do sexo masculino), avaliados em dois momentos. Avaliamos pressão arterial sistólica (PAS), pressão arterial diastólica (PAD), circunferência da cintura (CC), índice de massa corporal (IMC), porcentagem de gordura corporal (%GC), perfil lipídico, glicemia, aptidão cardiorrespiratória (APCR), e polimorfismo rs9939609 (gene FTO ) ( fat mass and obesity - associated gene ). A incidência cumulativa da hipertensão foi calculada, e realizada regressão logística multinominal. A diferença estatística foi estabelecida em p<0,05. Resultados Após três anos, a incidência de hipertensão foi de 11,5%. Indivíduos com sobrepeso e indivíduos obesos apresentaram maior probabilidade de se tornarem indivíduos classificados como borderline para hipertensão (sobrepeso OR: 3,22; IC95%: 1,08-9,55; obesidade OR: 4,05; IC95%: 1,68-9,75), e indivíduos obesos apresentaram maior probabilidade de se tornarem hipertensos (obesidade OR: 4,84; IC95%: 1,57-14,95). Valores de CC e de %GC considerados de alto risco foram associados com o desenvolvimento de hipertensão (OR: 3,41; IC95%: 126-9,19; OR: 2,49, IC95%: 1,08-5,75, respectivamente). Conclusão Encontramos uma incidência de hipertensão em crianças e adolescentes mais alta em comparação a estudos anteriores. Indivíduos com valores mais altos de IMC, CC e %GC no baseline apresentaram maior probabilidade de desenvolverem hipertensão, sugerindo a importância da adiposidade no desenvolvimento de hipertensão, mesmo em uma população tão jovem.

Abstract Background The increase of hypertension in children and adolescents has attracted the attention of the scientific community largely due to its association with the obesity epidemic. Objectives To describe the incidence of hypertension and its relationship with the cardiometabolic and genetic profile in children and adolescents from a city in southern Brazil in a three-year period. Methods This longitudinal study followed 469 children and adolescents, aged 7-17 years old (43.1% boys), assessed at two-time points. We evaluated systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP), waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (%BF), lipid profile, glucose, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and rs9939609 Polymorphism ( FTO ). Cumulative incidence of hypertension was calculated, and multinomial logistic regression was conducted. The statistical significance was established as p < 0.05. Results After three years, the incidence of hypertension was 11.5%. Overweight or obese individuals were more likely to become borderline hypertensive (overweight OR: 3.22, 95% CI: 1.08-9.55; obesity OR: 4.05, 95% CI: 1.68-9.75), and obese individuals were more likely to become hypertensive (obesity OR: 4.84, 95% CI: 1.57-14.95). High-risk WC and %BF values were associated with hypertension development (OR: 3.41, 95% CI: 1.26-9.19; OR: 2.49, 95% CI: 1.08-5.75, respectively). Conclusions We found a higher incidence of hypertension in children and adolescents as compared with previous studies. Individuals with higher values of BMI, WC and %BF at baseline were more likely to develop hypertension, suggesting the importance of adiposity in the development of hypertension even in such a young population.

Hypertension and Different Levels of Body Mass Index and Cardiorespiratory Fitness Amongst Adolescents

Abstract Background Hypertension is an increasingly common problem in adolescents; amongst the associated factors, physical inactivity and obesity are increasing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Objective To verify whether there is an association between higher blood pressure levels amongst adolescents with the relationship between different levels of body mass index (BMI) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Method Cross-sectional study consisting of 860 adolescents. Higher blood pressure (BP) was considered as borderline and hypertension as the classification. BMI was categorized as low-normal weight and overweight-obesity. The CRF was assessed by a nine-minute run/walk test and classified into low or appropriate levels (less and more favorable to health, respectively). Later, BMI and CRF were grouped into one categorical variable: (I) low/normal weight and appropriate CRF levels; (II) low/normal weight and low CRF levels; (III) overweight/obesity and appropriate CRF levels; and (IV) overweight/obesity and low CRF levels. Data were analyzed using Poisson regression, through the prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The p-values of p <0.05 were considered significant. Results Adolescents with overweight/obesity and low CRF levels had a 22% higher BP prevalence. Moreover, children with overweight/obesity, but with appropriate CRF levels, have a 15% higher BP prevalence. Conclusion Adolescents with overweight/obesity had a higher prevalence of BP, regardless of CRF levels. It is suggested that maintaining normal BMI is a protective factor for less favorable BP.

Association between the screen time and the cardiorespiratory fitness with the presence of metabolic risk in schoolchildren / Associação entre o tempo de tela e a aptidão cardiorrespiratória e a presença de risco metabólico em escolares

ABSTRACT Objective: To verify the association between screen time and cardiorespiratory fitness with the presence of metabolic risk in schoolchildren in an isolated and clustered manner. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 1.200 schoolchildren from Santa Cruz do Sul-RS. Screen time and cardiorespiratory fitness were evaluated. The continuous metabolic risk score was calculated by summing the Z score of the waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C). Results: Children (34.3%) and adolescents (48.2%) had high screen time, while 44.3% of the children and 53.3% of the adolescents were unfit in relation to cardiorespiratory fitness. Regarding the relation of screen time/cardiorespiratory fitness, 14.7% of the children and 26.9% of the adolescents presented high screen time and low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness. The presence of metabolic risk was shown in children (17.1%) and adolescents (14.7%). The presence of metabolic risk was directly associated with low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness in children and adolescents. When analyzed in clusters, the metabolic risk in children was 11% more prevalent in subjects with low screen time/unfit and 12% in subjects with high screen time/unfit, whereas in adolescents, the prevalence of metabolic risk was also higher in those with low screen time/unfit (8%) and high screen time/unfit (7%). Conclusions: The presence of metabolic risk in children and adolescents was associated with low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, independent of screen time, in an isolated or clustered manner.

RESUMO Objetivo: Verificar a associação entre tempo de tela e aptidão cardiorrespiratória, de forma isolada e agrupada, e a presença de risco metabólico em escolares. Métodos: Estudo transversal com 1.200 escolares de Santa Cruz do Sul (RS). Foram avaliados o tempo de tela e a aptidão cardiorrespiratória. Foi calculado o escore de risco metabólico por meio da soma do escore Z, da circunferência da cintura, da pressão arterial sistólica, da glicose, dos triglicerídeos, do colesterol total, do colesterol da lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL) e do colesterol da lipoproteína de alta densidade (HDL). Resultados: Crianças (34,3%) e adolescentes (48,2%) apresentaram elevado tempo de tela, enquanto 44,3% das crianças e 53,3% dos adolescentes foram inaptos no tocante à aptidão cardiorrespiratória. Na relação tempo de tela/aptidão cardiorrespiratória, 14,7% das crianças e 26,9% dos adolescentes exibiram elevado tempo de tela e baixos níveis de aptidão cardiorrespiratória. A presença de risco metabólico foi evidenciada em crianças (17,1%) e em adolescentes (14,7%). A presença de risco metabólico esteve associada diretamente com baixos níveis de aptidão cardiorrespiratória nas crianças e nos adolescentes no que se refere às variáveis de forma isolada. Quando analisado de modo agrupado, o risco metabólico em crianças foi 11% mais prevalente em sujeitos com baixo tempo de tela/inaptos e 12% em sujeitos com elevado tempo de tela/inaptos, enquanto em adolescentes a prevalência de risco metabólico também foi superior nos escolares com baixo tempo de tela/inaptos (8%) e elevado tempo de tela/inaptos (7%). Conclusões: A presença de risco metabólico em crianças e adolescentes esteve associada com baixos níveis de aptidão cardiorrespiratória, independentemente do tempo de tela, tanto de modo isolado quanto agrupado.

Youth overweight/obesity and its relationship with cardiovascular disease and parental risk factors

ABSTRACT Objective The prevalence of overweight and obesity is gradually increasing in both developed and developing countries. Obesity, for instance, can present multifactorial causes that interact with each other. Among the important factors, parental obesity plays a prominent role in the onset of obesity during childhood and teenage years through genetics and ambient aspects. This study aims to verify the possible existence of an association between overweight/obesity of schoolchildren and cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors for their parents. Subjetcs and methods For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 1,243 children and adolescents, aged between 7 and 17. Out of the total number of participants, 563 (45.3%) were boys who were selected across 19 schools in the urban and rural areas of Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). The overweight/obesity status of the schoolchildren was evaluated through their body mass index (BMI). Additionally, a self-reference questionnaire was employed to measure their parents' CVR. Results The results of this study revealed that students with overweight/obesity have a higher probability of having a father with hypertension (OR = 1.49; p = 0.038) and obesity (OR = 2.36; p = 0.002) and a mother with obesity (OR = 1.72; p = 0.016). Conclusion To conclude, this study confirms a relationship between overweight/obesity of schoolchildren with CVR for their parents.

Obesidade e aptidão física relacionada à saúde: um estudo com escolares de 10 a 13 anos de Santa Cruz do Sul - Brasil / Obesity and health related physical fitness: a study with schoolchildren aged 10 to 13 years from Santa Cruz do Sul ­ Brazil

Introdução: O sobrepeso e a obesidade são considerados problemas de saúde pública e têm sido ligados a baixos níveis de atividade física, tornando-se fatores de risco à saúde e contribuindo para o aparecimento de doenças crônicas.Bons níveis de aptidão física também são fatores que reduzemdoenças crônicas. Objetivo: Avaliar a associação entre obesidade e aptidão física relacionada àsaúde em escolares de 10 a 13 anos de idade. Casuística e métodos: Estudo transversal compostopor 785 escolares, de ambos os sexos, entre 10 e 13 anos de idade, pertencentes a escolas municipais e estaduais de Santa Cruz do Sul, RS ­ Brasil. Foram avaliados o Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) de acordo com os parâmetros da Organização Mundial da Saúde, e as características de aptidão físicade flexibilidade, resistência muscular e aptidão cardiorrespiratória (APCR) segundo os protocolosdo Projeto Esporte Brasil. Resultados: Em ambos os sexos, os valores médios de Índice de MassaCorporal são superiores entre os adolescentes classificados na faixa de risco à saúde para resistênciaabdominal e aptidão cardiorrespiratória, em relação aos adolescentes na faixa saudável (p<0,05).Além disso, adolescentes com sobrepeso/obesidade apresentam maior prevalência de baixos níveisde resistência abdominal (10% para meninos e 20% para meninas) e de aptidão cardiorrespiratória(21% para meninos e 22% para meninas). Conclusão: A presença de sobrepeso e obesidade estáassociada com baixos níveis de resistência abdominal e de aptidão cardiorrespiratória, em escolarescom 10 a 13 anos de idade.

Introduction: Overweight and obesity are considered public health problems and have been linked to low levels of physical activity. Both diseases became risk factors for health and contribute to the development of chronic diseases. Good levels of physical fitness are risk-reducing factors for chronic diseases. Objective: Evaluate the association between obesity and health-related physical fitness in schoolchildren aged 10 to 13 years. Patients and Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study with 785 schoolchildren of both sexes age ranging from 10 to 13 years-old, who attend public schools in Santa Cruz do Sul, RS ­ Brazil. We evaluated the Body Mass Index (BMI), according to parameters of World Health Organization, and health-related physical fitness characteristics of flexibility, muscular endurance and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) according to the protocols of the Projeto Esporte Brasil. Results: In both sexes, the mean values ofBody MassIndex were higher among adolescents classified in the health-risk zone for abdominal resistance and cardiorespiratory fitness, in relation to adolescents in the healthy zone (p<0.05). In addition, overweight/obese adolescents showeda higher prevalence of low levels of abdominal resistance (10% for boys and 20% for girls) and cardiorespiratory fitness (21% for boys and 22% for girls). Conclusion: The presence of overweight and obesity is associated with low levels of abdominal resistance and cardiorespiratory fitness in schoolchildren aged 10 to 13 years-old.