A Preliminary Investigation about the Influence of WIMU PROTM Location on Heart Rate Accuracy: A Comparative Study in Cycle Ergometer.

Technological development has boosted the use of multi-sensor devices to monitor athletes' performance, but the location and connectivity between devices have been shown to affect data reliability. This preliminary study aimed to determine whether the placement of a multi-sensor device (WIMU PROTM) could affect the heart rate signal reception (GARMINTM chest strap) and, therefore, data accuracy. Thirty-two physical education students (20 men and 12 women) performed 20 min of exercise in a cycle ergometer based on the warm-up of the Function Threshold Power 20 test in laboratory conditions, carrying two WIMU PROTM devices (Back: inter-scapula; Bicycle: bicycle's handlebar-20 cm from the chest) and two GARMINTM chest straps. A one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping test found full agreement between the two situations (inter-scapula vs. bicycle's handlebar). Excellent intra-class correlation values were obtained during the warm-up (ICC = 0.99, [1.00-1.00], p < 0.001), the time trial test (ICC = 0.99, [1.00-1.00], p < 0.001) and the cool-down (ICC = 0.99, [1.00-1.00], p < 0.001). The Bland-Altman plots confirmed the total agreement with a bias value of 0.00 ± 0.1 bpm. The interscapular back placement of the WIMU PROTM device does not affect heart rate measurement accuracy with a GARMINTM chest strap during cycling exercise in laboratory conditions.

Body surface area is a predictor of maturity status in school children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Generally, Body surface area (BSA) changes significantly during growth and maturation. These increases portend a possible relationship between body size as determined by BSA with maturational status in children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between maturity status (MS) obtained by non-invasive anthropometric methods and body surface area (BSA) in children and adolescents of both sexes in a regional population of Chile. Additionally, we sought to verify the type of linear or nonlinear relationship between MS and BSA in both sexes. METHODS: A descriptive (cross-sectional) study was designed in 950 children and adolescents of both sexes (539 males and 411 females). The age range ranged from 6.0 to 17.9 years. Anthropometric measurements were evaluated: body weight, standing height, sitting height. MS was assessed by means of two non-invasive anthropometric techniques. Both techniques predict peak years of growth velocity (APHV) through a regression equation for each sex. BSA (m2) was estimated by means of the Haycock equation. RESULTS: The R2 in the linear model is relatively lower (R2 = 0.80 to 0.89 in males and 0.74 to 0.66 in females) in relation to the nonlinear quadratic model (R2 = 0.81 in males and 0.76 to 0.69). The quadratic nonlinear quadratic model reflected an adequate fit (RMSE) for the data set, being in men (RMSE = 1.080 and 1.125), while in women (RMSE = 1.779 and 1.479). CONCLUSION: BSA is positively associated with MS determined by two non-invasive methods in Chilean children and adolescents: The nonlinear quadratic model was a better fit to the data distribution. The results suggest the use of BSA as a possible predictor of maturity status in Chilean youth.

[Lifestyle and physical condition factors associated with gender-specific BMI in Spanish preadolescents]. / Factores relacionados con el estilo de vida y la condición física que se asocian al IMC en función del género en preadolescentes españoles.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity has become one of the most serious health problems in our society and is associated with a multitude of conditions and complications at puberty. Through this descriptive, cross-sectional study we intended, first, to know the differences by gender in lifestyle and physical condition variables, and second, to know the determinants related to lifestyle and physical condition for a Spanish population aged 10 to 12 years with a medium socioeconomic status. The variables analyzed were BMI, physical condition variables (agility, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory capacity), and health habit variables (quality and frequency of food, physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, and sleep duration). We found significant differences between girls and boys in food quality and frequency, physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, flexibility, and maximum oxygen consumption variables. In the predictive analysis, the models significantly predicted the BMI for the total sample, the group of boys, and the group of girls. Explanatory variables include quality of breakfast, sedentary lifestyle, VO2 max and agility.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La obesidad se ha convertido en uno de los problemas de salud más graves de la sociedad y se relaciona con multitud de afecciones y complicaciones en la pubertad. Mediante este estudio descriptivo, transversal y poblacional se pretende, en primer lugar, conocer las diferencias entre las variables del estilo de vida y la condición física de cada género y, en segundo lugar, conocer los determinantes relacionados con el estilo de vida y la condición física en una población española de 10 a 12 años de edad con nivel socioeconómico medio. Las variables analizadas fueron el IMC, las variables de condición física (agilidad, flexibilidad y capacidad cardiorrespiratoria) y las variables de los hábitos de salud (calidad y frecuencia alimentaria, práctica de actividad física, sedentarismo y descanso nocturno). Encontramos diferencias significativas entre chicas y chicos para las variables de calidad y frecuencia alimentarias, actividad física, sedentarismo, flexibilidad y consumo máximo de oxígeno. En el análisis predictivo, los modelos predijeron significativamente el IMC de la muestra total, del grupo de chicos y del grupo de chicas, siendo las variables explicativas la calidad del desayuno, el sedentarismo de pantalla, el VO2 máx y la agilidad.

EFFECTS OF AN INTERVENTION PROGRAM (HHP) ON THE PROMOTION OF HEALTHY HABITS IN EARLY ADOLESCENCE.

BACKGROUND: it is vital to monitor and promote healthy lifestyle habits in early adolescence, as it is a time of changes when future lifestyle habits are formed. METHODS: a study was conducted to find out the effects of a Healthy Habits Program (HHP) in children between the ages of 10 and 12 years (N = 158). The study included an intervention group (IG) (n = 90), which participated in the HHP for 8 months, and a control group (CG) (n = 100). In order to assess healthy habits in these children we used the Inventory of Healthy Habits (IHH), the reliability of which was previously evaluated (N = 134). RESULTS: the IHH obtained good reliability, Interclass Correlation Coefficient (range .506 - 884; p < .001) and Spearman Correlation Coefficient (range r = 529 - 884; p < .001). As regards the HHP, there were no differences in eating habits initially (p = .564), but by the end of the study (p = .001) the IG showed better habits. As for the other healthy habits indicators, the CG had better habits initially (p = .047), but the score of the IG improved and there were no differences between the groups at the end of the study. CONCLUSIONS: it was shown that the IHH is a suitable and reliable questionnaire for studying habits in adolescents. The HHP brought about changes in the IG, which achieved better scores for eating habits and sum of health habits.

Introducción: la vigilancia y promoción de los hábitos de vida saludables en la primera adolescencia resulta vital, por ser una etapa de cambios y configuración de futuros hábitos de vida. Metodologia: se realizaron dos estudios en niños entre 10-12 años de edad. El primero sobre la fiabilidad del Inventario de Hábitos Saludables (IHS) (N = 134), y el segundo de diseño cuasi-experimental (N = 158), para el estudio pre-post de los efectos del Programa de Hábitos Saludables (PHS). Los hábitos se midieron con el IHS; el grupo de intervención (GI) (n = 90) participó en el PHS durante 8 meses, y el (GC) (n = 100). Resultados: el IHS obtuvo una buena fiabilidad, siendo el índice de correlación interclase (rango .506 - 884; p < 0,001) y el coeficiente de correlación de Spearman (rango r = 529 - 884; p < .001). Respecto al PHS, no existieron diferencias de alimentación previas (p = 0,564), pero sí al final del mismo (p = 0,001), a favor del GI. Del resto de indicadores de hábitos saludables, el GC tenía mejores hábitos iniciales (p = 0,047), pero el GI mejoró su puntuación, no existiendo diferencias finales entre grupos. Conclusiones: el IHS resultó ser un cuestionario adaptado y fiable para el estudio de los hábitos en adolescentes. El PHS provocó cambios en el GI, consiguiendo mejores puntuaciones en alimentación y sumatorio de hábitos saludables.