Household food insecurity among child and adolescent athletics practitioners: A cross-sectional, descriptive, and exploratory study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to explore the prevalence of food insecurity among child and adolescent athletics practitioners and to investigate factors associated with exercise performance, dietary habits, body composition, sleep, and socioeconomic status based on food security status. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and exploratory study conducted in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, between June and July 2023. The convenience sample included children and adolescents (7-17 y old) of both sexes. We evaluated exercise performance, household food insecurity (HFI), dietary-related parameters, and other body composition, lifestyle, and social-related variables. Exercise performance was assessed using the counter movement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), horizontal long jump (HLJ), 50-m sprint test (50-m ST) and throwing strength test (TST). The assessment of HFI was conducted using the food insecurity experience scale (FIES). Comparisons and associations were investigated based on food security status. RESULTS: The total sample size was comprised of 138 children (n = 42; 30.4%) and adolescents (n = 96; 69.6%). We found an association between food security status and sex (X2(138,1) = 4.42; P = 0.036). SJ was higher in the food security group than in the HFI group (t(117) = 2.112; P = 0.037; ES = 0.39). Sleep- and dietary-related factors did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the prevalence of HFI among child and adolescent athletics participants was approximately 40%. Regarding exercise performance, SJ was better in the food security group than in the HFI group. Concerning dietary-related data, the HFI group had a lower number of meals per day than the food security group, and other dietary data did not differ between the groups. Body composition and sleep-related parameters were similar between the groups.

Respostas fisiológicas ao exercício agudo em ratos obesos tratados com metformina / Physiological responses to intense exercise in obese rats treated with metformin

O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar as respostas fisiológicas ao exercício agudo em ratos Wistar obesos, tratados com metformina. Os animais receberam injeção subcutânea de glutamato monossódico (4mg/g peso corporal), para indução da obesidade. Os animais foram divididos em 4 grupos, conforme o tratamento recebido: obesos controles (OC); obesos metformina (OM); obesos controles exercitados (OCE) e obesos metformina exercitados (OME). Foram analisados, antes e após uma sessão de exercício agudo: glicose sérica (mg/dL), triglicerídeos (g/100g), colesterol total (mg/dL) e hematócrito ( por cento). Os valores de glicose sérica e colesterol total foram reduzidos significativamente no grupo controle exercitado (OCE - 68,4 ± 14,7 e 70,8 ± 18,3) em comparação ao grupo controle sedentário (OC - 83,6 ± 12,8 e 91,3 ± 9,6). A administração de metformina isoladamente diminuiu a concentração de glicose de 83,6 ± 12,8 (OC) para 70,8 ± 5,9 (OM). Por outro lado, a associação de metformina com exercício aumentou a disponibilidade de triacilgliceróis livres após a atividade (OM - 166,6 ± 11,3, OME - 184,0 ± 4,3). Em conclusão o programa de intervenção utilizado (exercício físico agudo) mostrou-se eficiente na homeostasia glicêmica, bem como, nos níveis circulantes de lipídios em ratos obesos tratados com metformina.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the physiological responses to intense exercise in obese Wistar rats treated with metformin. To induce obesity, all animals were infused with monosodic glutamate (4 mg/g of body weight) via subcutaneous injection. The rats were divided in 4 groups according to the received treatment: obese control (OC); obese metformin ( OM); obese control exercise (OCE) and obese metformin exercise (OME). Before and after one session of intense exercise the following parameters were measured: serum glucose (mg/dl), triglycerides (g/100g), total cholesterol (mg/dl) and haematocrit ( percent). The values of serum glucose and total cholesterol were significantly reduced in control exercise group (OCE - 68.4 ± 14.7 and 70.8 ±18.3) compared to obese control sedentary group (OC - 83.6 ± 12.8 and 91.3 ± 9.6). The isolate metformin infusion decreased the glucose concentration from 83.6 ± 12.8 (OC) to 70.8 ± 5.9 (OM). On the other hand, metformin associated with exercise increased the availability of free triglycerides after exercise (OM - 166.6 ± 11.3, OME - 184.0 ± 4.3). In conclusion, the present intervention program (intense physical exercise) showed to be efficient on glicemic homeostasis, as well as on lipids circulatory levels in obese rats treated with metformin.