Organised and non-organised activities contribute to overall physical activity levels in adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Participation in organised and non-organised physical activities among adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome is underexplored. This study aimed to examine differences between organised and non-organised physical activities among adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome. METHODS: Forty participants with Down syndrome (27 woman; mean age 21.4 ± 4.9 years) were recruited. Data on physical activity participation were collected by self- or proxy-reported questionnaires about attendance, involvement and type of physical activity. RESULTS: Adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome participated in more organised than non-organised activities (P < 0.05), more often (P < 0.05), but there was no difference in the total time spent participating in these activities overall. Participants spent more time in vigorous physical activity during organised activities (P < 0.05) and spent more time in light physical activity during non-organised physical activities (P < 0.05). Dancing (organised activity) and walking (non-organised activity) were the most reported activities. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in both organised and non-organised physical activities is important to increase overall physical activity levels of adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome. Future research exploring physical activity preferences may help guide the planning and adaption of community programmes for this group.

Environmental vs psychosocial barriers to active commuting to university: which matters more?

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were (1) to examine the differences in the mode of commuting and barriers to active commuting to university between the sexes (men and women) and in different countries (Chile and Spain); and (2) to analyse the association between the mode of commuting and the perceived barriers for male and female university students in Chile and Spain. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study took place between April 2017 and May 2018 in Chile and Spain. METHODS: The study population included 2269 university students (53.0% women). The mode of commuting and barriers to active commuting to university were assessed by a self-reported questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations. RESULTS: In both sexes, public and private transport were the main modes of commuting used in Chile and Spain, respectively, followed by active commuting in all participants, except for female students in Spain. Women perceived more environmental and psychosocial barriers compared to men (Chile: P < 0.001; Spain: P = 0.006). Perceived environmental barriers showed higher significant differences between students in Chile and Spain (P < 0.05). Private commuters reported a larger proportion of psychosocial barriers compared to active commuters (Chile: men P = 0.001, women P < 0.001; Spain: men P < 0.001, women P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: The study findings suggest that the mode of commuting and the barriers to active commuting to university may be influenced by sex and country.

Inflammation and fatness in adolescents with and without Down syndrome: UP & DOWN study.

BACKGROUND: The main objective of this study was to describe the inflammatory status of adolescents with Down syndrome (DS) and their relationship with adiposity. METHODS: Ninety-five adolescents with DS (44.2% girls) and a control group of 113 adolescents (47.8% girls), aged between 11 and 18 years old, from the UP & DOWN study were included in this substudy. Serum C-reactive protein, C3 and C4 complement factors, total proteins, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-α, insulin, cortisol, leptin, adiponectin, galactin-3 and visfatin were analysed; homeostatic model assessment index was calculated. In order to evaluate adiposity, we measured the following body fat variables: weight, height, waist circumference and skinfold thicknesses. Birth weight was obtained by questionnaire. In addition, body mass index, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and body fat percentage (BF%) were calculated. RESULTS: Down syndrome group showed higher levels of body mass index, WHtR, waist circumference, BF% and lower birth weight than controls (P < 0.001). In the general linear model in the total sample, WHtR was positively associated with C3 and C4 (P < 0.001) as well as with leptin levels (P = 0.015). BF% was positively associated with total proteins (P = 0.093) and leptin levels (P < 0.001). DS was positively associated with total proteins (P < 0.001), C3 (P = 0.047) and C4 (P = 0.019). Despite the higher levels of adiposity found in DS group, no direct association was found between BF% and leptin levels, comparing with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that abdominal obesity should be controlled in adolescents because of its relationship with acute phase-inflammatory biomarkers but especially in DS adolescents who may show a peculiar metabolic status according to their relationship between adiposity and inflammatory biomarkers.

Changes in objectively measured physical activity in adolescents with Down syndrome: the UP&DOWN longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: It is a priority to understand that physical activity behaviour over time is a priority in Down syndrome population in order to design and promote succesfull interventions to maintain or increase levels of physical activity. We aimed to study 1 and 2-year changes in objectively measured physical activity among a relatively large sample of adolescents with Down syndrome. METHODS: This study comprised a total of 99 adolescents with Down syndrome (38 girls) aged from 11 to 20 years old at baseline. Participants with valid accelerometer data at baseline and at least one of the follow-up visits were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Overall, levels of physical activity observed in adolescents with Down syndrome declined from baseline to follow-ups, but these changes were not significant (all P > 0.05). Moderate-to-moderately high tracking of physical activity was observed in adolescents with Down syndrome (all P < 0.001). Youths who met physical activity guidelines at baseline demonstrated a greater decline in physical activity in 1 and 2-year changes (P < 0.05), although they were also more likely to meet physical activity guidelines at 1 and 2-year follow-ups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with Down syndrome do not change their levels of physical activity at 2-year follow-ups, but those who met physical activity guidelines presented stronger declines in physical activity over time.

The role of fatness on physical fitness in adolescents with and without Down syndrome: The UP&DOWN study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Adolescents with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit higher levels of fatness and low levels of physical fitness compared with those without DS. In adolescents without DS, fatness is tightly associated with physical fitness, but this association is unclear in adolescents with DS. The aim of this study was to examine the association between several markers of fatness and physical fitness in a relative large sample of adolescents with and without DS. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 111 adolescents with DS (41 females) aged 11-20 years participated in this cross-sectional study. We also included a sex-matched control group (ratio 1:2) of 222 adolescents without DS aged 12-18 years, participating in the UP&DOWN Study. The Assessing Level of Physical Activity (ALPHA) health-related fitness test battery for adolescents was used to assess fatness and physical fitness. RESULTS: Our results show that fatness is not associated with low levels of physical fitness in adolescents with DS (that is, 3 of the 16 analyses identified differences in physical fitness variables by groups of fatness). In contrast, fatness, as expected, is associated with levels of physical fitness in adolescents without DS (that is, 13 of the 16 analyses identified differences in physical fitness variables by groups of fatness). CONCLUSIONS: The present finding contributes to new knowledge by suggesting that the role of fatness on physical fitness is different in adolescents with and without DS, and consequently, the poor levels of physical fitness in adolescents with DS may be due to the syndrome rather than the high prevalence of obesity from this population.