Overweight and Blood Pressure in Pre-Pubertal Children: A Longitudinal Study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the longitudinal relationship between overweight and hypertension in school children. METHODS: This cohort study enrolled children 6-8 years of age who were then prospectively followed up over a 24 months period with repeat assessments performed at an interval of 11-13 months. Information on participation in physical education classes in school, sports practice outside of school, and economic status were obtained through questionnaires answered by parents/guardians. The measurement of blood pressure, weight, height, and waist circumference was performed during the serial follow-up visits in school. RESULTS: The proportion of hypertension did not change significantly over the 24 months (7.1% to 8.2%; P = 0.690). However, children with overweight and obesity throughout the period, had a 198% [HR (95% CI) 2.98 (1.40, 6.35)] higher risk of having hypertension diagnosed during follow-up when compared to eutrophic children in the same period. CONCLUSION: The development trajectory of overweight and obesity in children aged 6-8 years was associated with hypertension.

Autonomic Function Recovery and Physical Activity Levels in Post-COVID-19 Young Adults after Immunization: An Observational Follow-Up Case-Control Study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has detrimental multi-system consequences. Symptoms may appear during the acute phase of infection, but the literature on long-term recovery of young adults after mild to moderate infection is lacking. Heart rate variability (HRV) allows for the observation of autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulation post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. Since physical activity (PA) can help improve ANS modulation, investigating factors that can influence HRV outcomes after COVID-19 is essential to advancements in care and intervention strategies. Clinicians may use this research to aid in the development of non-medication interventions. At baseline, 18 control (CT) and 20 post-COVID-19 (PCOV) participants were observed where general anamnesis was performed, followed by HRV and PA assessment. Thus, 10 CT and 7 PCOV subjects returned for follow-up (FU) evaluation 6 weeks after complete immunization (two doses) and assessments were repeated. Over the follow-up period, a decrease in sympathetic (SNS) activity (mean heart rate: p = 0.0024, CI = -24.67--3.26; SNS index: p = 0.0068, CI = -2.50--0.32) and increase in parasympathetic (PNS) activity (mean RR: p = 0.0097, CI = 33.72-225.51; PNS index: p = 0.0091, CI = -0.20-1.47) were observed. At follow-up, HRV was not different between groups (p > 0.05). Additionally, no differences were observed in PA between moments and groups. This study provides evidence of ANS recovery after SARS-CoV-2 insult in young adults over a follow-up period, independent of changes in PA.

Impact of sports participation on components of metabolic syndrome in adolescents: ABCD growth study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the impact of sports participation (12 months of practice) on the components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in both sexes. METHODS: This is an observational longitudinal study, a part of which is entitled "Analysis of Behaviors of Children During Growth" (ABCD Growth Study), Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil. The sample was composed of 171 adolescents (112 boys and 59 girls), divided into non-sports and sports groups. High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), triglycerides, and glucose were analyzed by the colorimetric method of dry chemistry and processed biochemically. Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were measured using an automatic device. Body fat was estimated using a densitometry scanner. RESULTS: Adolescents who practiced sports were younger (p-value=0.001) and had a lower peak height velocity (p-value=0.001) than the non-sports group. The differences (Δ) after 12 months were of greater magnitude for the sports group when compared to the non-sports group (p-value=0.013), glucose (moderate magnitude in favor of the sports group; p-value=0.001), HDL-c (small magnitude in favor of the sports group; p-value=0.0015), and MetS (moderate magnitude in favor of the sports group; p-value=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The practice of sports in adolescents had a protective effect on the metabolic components of MetS.

Role of Body Mass and Physical Activity in Autonomic Function Modulation on Post-COVID-19 Condition: An Observational Subanalysis of Fit-COVID Study.

The harmful effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can reach the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and endothelial function. Therefore, the detrimental multiorgan effects of COVID-19 could be induced by deregulations in ANS that may persist after the acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additionally, investigating the differences in ANS response in overweight/obese, and physically inactive participants who had COVID-19 compared to those who did not have the disease is necessary. The aim of the study was to analyze the autonomic function of young adults after mild-to-moderate infection with SARS-CoV-2 and to assess whether body mass index (BMI) and levels of physical activity modulates autonomic function in participants with and without COVID-19. Patients previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 and healthy controls were recruited for this cross-sectional observational study. A general anamnesis was taken, and BMI and physical activity levels were assessed. The ANS was evaluated through heart rate variability. A total of 57 subjects were evaluated. Sympathetic nervous system activity in the post-COVID-19 group was increased (stress index; p = 0.0273). They also presented lower values of parasympathetic activity (p < 0.05). Overweight/obese subjects in the post-COVID-19 group presented significantly lower parasympathetic activity and reduced global variability compared to non-obese in control group (p < 0.05). Physically inactive subjects in the post-COVID-19 group presented significantly higher sympathetic activity than active subjects in the control group. Parasympathetic activity was significantly increased in physically active subjects in the control group compared to the physically inactive post-COVID-19 group (p < 0.05). COVID-19 promotes changes in the ANS of young adults, and these changes are modulated by overweight/obesity and physical activity levels.

Body dissatisfaction and its association with domains of physical activity and of sedentary behavior in a sample of 15,632 adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: Body image is widely related to behavioral factors in adolescents and negative levels has been associated to poor physical and mental health. This study analyzed the association of physical activity and sedentary behavior with body dissatisfaction in adolescents. METHODS: Data from 15,632 adolescents between 11 and 17 years from the Brazilian National Scholar Health Survey - PeNSE 2015 were analyzed. Body dissatisfaction was self-reported. Sedentary behavior was assessed by hours in television (TV) viewing and in overall sitting behaviors. Physical activity was assessed by amount of time in domains of active commuting, physical education classes at school, and physical activities outside the school. Analyses were adjusted by age, ethnicity, body mass index, and scholarity of mother. RESULTS: Body dissatisfaction prevalence was 18.5%, being higher in girls than boys (24.2 vs. 12.7%, p < 0.001). Female gender (OR = 2.35), higher age-group (OR = 1.64), high scholarity of mother (OR = 1.43), and had overweight/obesity (OR = 2.38/4.81) were positively related to body dissatisfaction. Higher sedentary time was associated with body dissatisfaction in adolescents when compared to less than 2 h/day of sedentary time (OR varying from 1.45 to 2.14). Physical activity was negatively associated with adolescent body dissatisfaction in all assessed domains, with odds ratio varying from 0.66 to 0.89. CONCLUSIONS: Body dissatisfaction showed an independent association of with total sedentary behavior (positively) and with different domains of physical activity (negatively) in a large scholar sample of Brazilian adolescents.