Associations of sleep time, quality of life, and obesity indicators on physical literacy components: a structural equation model.

AIM: To verify the association between ideal sleep time and physical literacy components while also considering multiple mediators, such as quality of life and obesity, using a sample of adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study consisted of 470 adolescents aged 11-17 years from southern Brazil. Sleep time, health-related quality of life, and physical literacy components (i.e., physical education enjoyment, sports participation, sedentary behavior, moderate to vigorous physical activity, sex, and age) were evaluated through self-reported questionnaires. In addition, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference were determined. The theoretical/statistical support of the structural equation model was evaluated according to fit parameters and strength of association. RESULTS: A direct association was observed between more sleep time and lower levels of obesity. The obesity indicators also had a negative association with HqOL, and HqOL had a positive association with physical literacy. The indirect associations indicated that the ideal sleep time was positively associated with HqOL and physical literacy components, considering the negative mediation effect of obesity. The model explains physical literacy in 31% of the variance (R = 0.31). CONCLUSION: There was an indirect association between ideal sleep duration and quality of life and between both variables with physical literacy. These relationships occur even considering the negative influence of obesity. Therefore, a child who sleeps adequately has a higher likelihood of being physically active, regardless of obesity, potentially enhancing overall quality of life across various domains.

Overweight and obesity in Brazilian schoolchildren aged 10 to 15 years: data from a Brazilian sports project.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Brazilian schoolchildren according to gender, age and geographic region. A descriptive association study was conducted on 36,976 schoolchildren (20,914 boys and 16,062 girls aged 10 to 15 years) between 2004 and 2005 using secondary data originating from a school-based cross-sectional epidemiological survey. The cut-off body mass index proposed by the International Obesity Task Force was used as diagnostic criterion for overweight and obesity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 11.9% and 2.6%, respectively, with a higher proportion of overweight among girls and of obesity among boys. An association was observed between overweight, age and region, with the demonstration of higher odds ratios for overweight among children aged 10 to 13 years and children from the South, Center-West and Southeast regions. Obesity was significantly associated with gender, age and region, indicating higher odds ratios among boys, children aged 10 to 13 years and children from the South and Southeast regions. Although lower than that observed in most developed countries, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Brazilian schoolchildren is a matter of concern. In this respect, health policies and strategies should take into account gender and age of the individuals and geographic region of the country.

Anthropometric and Physical Fitness Differences Among Brazilian Adolescents who Practise Different Team Court Sports.

The objective of this work was to compare the anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of Brazilian adolescents who practise team court sports and to compare specific parameters obtained for adolescents with data from the general population. This was a cross-sectional study of 1,348 male adolescents grouped as follows: basketball players (n = 287), indoor soccer players (n = 665), handball players (n = 108) and volleyball players (n = 288), all between 10 and 14 years of age. Anthropometric (body mass, body height, arm span, and body mass index) and physical fitness data (flexibility, muscular strength, explosive power, speed, aerobic fitness and agility) were collected. The Brazilian population was used as a reference and compared to the adolescent subjects using Z scores for all variables. Anthropometric characteristics and performances in physical fitness tests differed (p<0.05) among players of different sports. In addition, for each variable assessed, adolescents who practised team court sports showed similar or improved results compared to their counterparts in the general population (p<0.05). Furthermore, the anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics differed depending on the team court sport practised. These findings may elucidate which physical abilities are most impacted by the practise of a particular team sport as well as help teachers and physical education and sport professionals identify talented adolescents.

Comparison between the growth of Brazilian children and adolescents and the reference growth charts: data from a Brazilian project.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the growth of Brazilian children and adolescents with reference growth charts. METHODS: School-based cross-sectional study involving 41,654 students (23,328 boys and 18,326 girls) aged 7 to 17 years. Physical growth variables (body weight, height) and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Height, 50th percentile, and BMI, 85th percentile, were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) reference values, and weight, 50th percentile, was compared with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts. RESULTS: Mean height and body weight of Brazilian schoolchildren were generally higher than the WHO and CDC reference values for both genders at most ages. BMI values of Brazilian schoolchildren were significantly lower than the WHO obesity values at all ages. CONCLUSION: The growth in body weight, height, and BMI of children and adolescents in the urban area of Brazil is increasingly similar to those reported in developed countries. Further prospective studies should be conducted in Brazil comparing their results with the international growth charts to enable more accurate inferences.

Comparação do crescimento de crianças e adolescentes brasileiros com curvas de referência para crescimento físico: dados do Projeto Esporte Brasil / Comparison between the growth of Brazilian children and adolescents and the reference growth charts: data from a Brazilian project

OBJETIVO: Comparar crianças e adolescentes brasileiros com curvas de referência para crescimento físico. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, de base escolar, conduzido em 41.654 estudantes (23.328 do sexo masculino e 18.326 do sexo feminino) de 7 a 17 anos. Foram mensuradas variáveis antropométricas (estatura, peso corporal) e calculado o índice de massa corporal (IMC). A estatura, percentil 50, e o IMC, percentil 85, foram comparados com tabelas normativas da Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS), e o peso corporal, percentil 50, com as curvas do Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). RESULTADOS: Ao comparar os valores de estatura e peso corporal de ambos os sexos com os valores de referência da OMS e do CDC foi identificado que os jovens brasileiros atingiram e ultrapassaram os pontos de referência na maioria das idades. Os IMC dos escolares brasileiros foram inferiores aos valores de sobrepeso da OMS para todas as idades. CONCLUSÃO: A magnitude de crescimento em peso corporal, estatura e IMC de crianças e adolescentes da zona urbana do Brasil está cada vez mais semelhante à reportada em países desenvolvidos. Sugere-se que estudos prospectivos no Brasil sejam realizados e comparados com curvas internacionais de crescimento físico a fim de poder realizar inferências mais precisas.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the growth of Brazilian children and adolescents with reference growth charts. METHODS: School-based cross-sectional study involving 41,654 students (23,328 boys and 18,326 girls) aged 7 to 17 years. Physical growth variables (body weight, height) and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Height, 50th percentile, and BMI, 85th percentile, were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) reference values, and weight, 50th percentile, was compared with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts. RESULTS: Mean height and body weight of Brazilian schoolchildren were generally higher than the WHO and CDC reference values for both genders at most ages. BMI values of Brazilian schoolchildren were significantly lower than the WHO obesity values at all ages. CONCLUSION: The growth in body weight, height, and BMI of children and adolescents in the urban area of Brazil is increasingly similar to those reported in developed countries. Further prospective studies should be conducted in Brazil comparing their results with the international growth charts to enable more accurate inferences.

Overweight and obesity in brazilian schoolchildren aged 10 to 15 years: data from a Brazilian sports project / Sobrepeso e obesidade em escolares brasileiros de 10 a 15 anos: dados do projeto esporte Brasil

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Brazilian schoolchildren according to gender, age and geographic region. A descriptive association study was conducted on 36,976 schoolchildren (20,914 boys and 16,062 girls aged 10 to 15 years) between 2004 and 2005 using secondary data originating from a school-based cross-sectional epidemiological survey. The cut-off body mass index proposed by the International Obesity Task Force was used as diagnostic criterion for overweight and obesity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 11.9 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively, with a higher proportion of overweight among girls and of obesity among boys. An association was observed between overweight, age and region, with the demonstration of higher odds ratios for overweight among children aged 10 to 13 years and children from the South, Center-West and Southeast regions. Obesity was significantly associated with gender, age and region, indicating higher odds ratios among boys, children aged 10 to 13 years and children from the South and Southeast regions. Although lower than that observed in most developed countries, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Brazilian schoolchildren is a matter of concern. In this respect, health policies and strategies should take into account gender and age of the individuals and geographic region of the country.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi determinar a prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade em escolares brasileiros, de acordo com sexo, idade e região geográfica. Trata-se de estudo descritivo e de associação, baseado em dados secundários originados de estudo epidemiológico transversal, de base escolar, conduzido em 36.976 escolares (20.914 do sexo masculino e 16.062 do sexo feminino; 10 a 15 anos), entre 2004 e 2005. Como critério de diagnóstico de sobrepeso e obesidade, utilizou-se os pontos de corte do índice de massa corporal, propostos pela International Obesity Task Force. A prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade foi de 11,9 por cento e 2,6 por cento, respectivamente, com proporção mais elevada de sobrepeso no sexo feminino, e de obesidade, no masculino. Foi encontrada associação entre sobrepeso, idade e região, demonstrando que as odds ratios para sobrepeso são maiores nas idades de 10 a 13 anos e nas regiões Sul, Centro-Oeste e Sudeste. A obesidade foi significativamente associada com sexo, idade e região. Esses achados apontaram que as odds ratios para obesidade foi maior nos escolares do sexo masculino, nas idades de 10 a 13 anos e nas regiões Sul e Sudeste. A prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade encontrada nos escolares brasileiros, apesar de ser menor do que a encontrada na maioria dos países desenvolvidos é preocupante. Políticas e estratégias de saúde devem considerar o sexo, idade e região geográfica do país.