Understanding the Associations across Fibromyalgia-Related Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Self-Esteem Satisfaction with Life and Physical Activity in Portuguese and Brazilian Patients: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis.

Background and Objectives: Fibromyalgia are heterogeneous and differ from patient to patient; however, the most reported are general myalgia and at specific points associated with fatigue and certain psychological adversities. Physical activity can mitigate the effects of the symptoms. However, the associations between fibromyalgia-related fatigue, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, satisfaction with life and physical activity are unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to understand the associations between these symptoms and whether there are differences between these associations across two distinct cultures. Materials and Methods: A total of 473 women aged between 28 and 75 years (M = 49.27; SD ± 8.28) completed five questionnaires about fibromyalgia-related fatigue, physical activity, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and satisfaction with life. Results: Fibromyalgia-related fatigue was positively associated with depression and anxiety, depression and anxiety were negatively associated with self-esteem, self-esteem was positively associated with satisfaction with life, satisfaction with life was positively associated with physical activity and there were no differences in terms of the perceptions and associations of these variables between Portuguese and Brazilian patients. Conclusions: Our results showed the significant role of associations between these variables and a similarity in the perception and relationship of the variables between the two cultures.

Marcadores antropométricos de adiposidade e hipertensão arterial em academias de ginástica: um estudo exploratório / Anthropometric markers of adiposity and hypertension in Fitness Clubs: an exploratory study

Introdução: Há uma falta de conhecimento sobre o perfil de saúde das pessoas que frequentam as academias de ginástica. Objetivo: Investigar a prevalência de hipertensão arterial (HA) e sua associação com Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) e Circunferência da Cintura (CC) em frequentadores de academias no município do Rio de Janeiro. Métodos: A amostra foi constituída de 2836 mulheres e 1707 homens com idades entre 19 e 64 anos. A HA foi diagnosticada como pressão arterial ≥140/90 mm Hg. Todas as medidas antropométricas seguiram as diretrizes preconizadas pela International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Resultados: As prevalências de HA (10,9%), sobrepeso (30,3%) e obesidade (11,5%), foram significativamente maiores nos homens e associados com a idade, e a prevalência de CC elevada (56,6%) foi significativamente maior em mulheres e se associou com a idade (p<0,001). Apesar da prevalência de HA ter sido relativamente baixa, tanto o IMC quanto o CC mostraram-se marcadores associados a HA. Conclusão: Profissionais que trabalham em academias de ginástica devem ter conhecimento sobre a importância desses indicadores e principalmente sobre a sua relação com a HA.

Introduction: There is a lack of knowledge about the health profile of the people who attend fitness clubs. Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of Hypertension and its association with anthropometric markers such as Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (WC) in Fitness Clubs of Rio de Janeiro City. Methods: The sample was composed of 2836 women and 1707 men (age range 19-64 years). The hypertension was diagnosed as ≥140/90 mm Hg. All anthropometric measures followed the guidelines recommended by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Results: The prevalence of hypertension (10.9%), overweight (30.3%) and obesity (11.5%) were significantly higher in men and associated with age and the prevalence of high WC (56.6%) was significantly higher in women and associated with age (p<0.001). Despite the relatively low hypertension prevalence, the BMI and WC were associated the hypertension. Conclusion: Fitness clubs professionals should be aware of the importance of these markers and their relation with the hypertension.