Physical activity level measured by accelerometry and physical fitness of schoolchildren / Nível de atividade física mensurada por acelerometria e aptidão física de escolares

Abstract Objective: To describe and compare physical fitness variables according to compliance with the recommendations of physical activity, measured by accelerometry. Methods: The sample gathered 120 students, 57 boys and 63 girls aged 9 to 11 years. The variables analyzed were: weight, stature, BMI, skinfolds, waist circumference, agility, flexibility, speed and strength of upper and lower limbs, and abdominal strength. Physical activity was measured objectively using an accelerometer. The students were divided into two groups: "complies with recommendations" (≥60min/day) and "does not comply with recommendations" (<60min/day). To verify the normality of the data, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used. The mean values of students who do or do not comply with the physical activity recommendation were compared using Student's t and U-Mann Whitney tests. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The students who followed the recommendation showed significantly lower values compared to those who did not for adiposity (sum of 7 skinfolds); body weight; body mass index (BMI) and abdominal strength. No significant differences were found in the variables of speed and agility, and the upper limbs' strength was greater in subjects who did not comply with recommendations. Conclusions: Students who complied with physical activity recommendations had better body composition and more abdominal strength than those who did not.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever e comparar as variáveis da aptidão física de acordo com o cumprimento da recomendação de atividade física, medida por acelerometria. Métodos: A amostra foi composta de 120 escolares, sendo 57 meninos e 63 meninas, de 9 a 11 anos de idade. As variáveis analisadas foram: peso, estatura, índice de massa corpórea (IMC), dobras cutâneas, circunferências, agilidade, flexibilidade, velocidade e força de membros superiores, inferiores e abdominal. A atividade física foi mensurada de forma objetiva por meio de acelerômetro. Os escolares foram divididos em dois grupos: "cumpre a recomendação" (≥60min/dia) e "não cumpre a recomendação" (<60min/dia). Para verificar a normalidade dos dados, foi utilizado o teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov. A comparação dos valores médios dos escolares que cumprem ou não a recomendação de atividade física foi feita pelos testes t de Student e U de Mann-Whitney. O nível de significância adotado foi de p<0,05. Resultados: Os escolares que cumpriram a recomendação, comparados com os que não cumpriram, apresentaram valores significativamente menores para adiposidade (somatória das sete dobras cutâneas), peso corporal, IMC e força abdominal. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas nas variáveis de velocidade e agilidade; quanto à força de membros superiores (MMSS), constatou-se que ela foi maior em quem não cumpriu a recomendação. Conclusões: Crianças que cumpriram a recomendação de atividade física apresentaram melhor composição corporal e força abdominal que as crianças que não cumpriram.

Association between breastfeeding, parents' body mass index and birth weight with obesity indicators in children.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is potentially affected by breastfeeding, parents' body mass index and birth weight. Thus, this study aimed to verify the association between breastfeeding, parents' body mass index and birth weight with obesity indicators in children. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, including data from 402 schoolchildren between 9 and 11 of age in the city of São Caetano do Sul, Brazil. Parents or guardians answered a questionnaire about breastfeeding (month), birth weight (kg), and parental body weight and height (parents' body mass index [kg/m2] was calculated). Body mass index (kg/m2), waist circumference (cm) and body fat (%), determined via bio-impedance, were measured and used as obesity indicators. Multi-level linear regression models were used to assess the respective associations adjusted for the potential confounders. RESULTS: Considering body mass index of children, the overall prevalence of eutrophic, overweight and obese were 58.2%, 20.9% and 17.2%, respectively. Significant and positive correlations were observed between breastfeeding, maternal as well as paternal body mass index and the children's body mass index, body fat and waist circumference. Birth weight was weakly and positively associated with body mass index and body fat but was not associated with waist circumference. After adjusting for school, sex, age, race/ethnicity, annual household income, sedentary time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, maternal body mass index and birth weight were positively associated with children's body mass index (ß: 0.228; 95%CI: 0.142; 0.314 and ß: 0.001; 95%CI: 0.001; 0.002), body fat (ß: 0.484; 95%CI: 0.297; 0.671 and ß: 0.002; 95%CI: 0.001; 0.003) and waist circumference (ß: 0.509; 95%CI: 0.304; 0.715 and ß: 0.003; 95%CI: 0.001; 0.005). Breastfeeding was not associated with any obesity indicators. CONCLUSION: Maternal body mass index and birth weight were associated with children's obesity indicators. The perinatal environment, therefore, appears to be a critical contributor to childhood obesity and public policies need to address parental obesity in order to tackle childhood obesity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE) is registered at (Identifier NCT01722500).

Physical activity level measured by accelerometry and physical fitness of schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare physical fitness variables according to compliance with the recommendations of physical activity, measured by accelerometry. METHODS: The sample gathered 120 students, 57 boys and 63 girls aged 9 to 11 years. The variables analyzed were: weight, stature, BMI, skinfolds, waist circumference, agility, flexibility, speed and strength of upper and lower limbs, and abdominal strength. Physical activity was measured objectively using an accelerometer. The students were divided into two groups: "complies with recommendations" (≥60min/day) and "does not comply with recommendations" (<60min/day). To verify the normality of the data, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used. The mean values of students who do or do not comply with the physical activity recommendation were compared using Student's t and U-Mann Whitney tests. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: The students who followed the recommendation showed significantly lower values compared to those who did not for adiposity (sum of 7 skinfolds); body weight; body mass index (BMI) and abdominal strength. No significant differences were found in the variables of speed and agility, and the upper limbs' strength was greater in subjects who did not comply with recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Students who complied with physical activity recommendations had better body composition and more abdominal strength than those who did not.

Time trends and projected obesity epidemic in Brazilian adults between 2006 and 2030.

We examined time trends and projected obesity epidemic in Brazilian adults between 2006 and 2030 by sex, race/skin color, educational attainment, and state capitals. Self-reported body weight and height of 730,309 adults (≥ 18 years) from the Vigitel study were collected by telephone interview between 2006 and 2019. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to predict the prevalence of body mass index (BMI) categories as a function of time by 2030. The prevalence of obesity increased from 11.8% in 2006 to 20.3% in 2019. The projected prevalences by 2030 are estimated to be 68.1% for overweight, 29.6% for obesity, and 9.3% for obesity classes II and III. Women, black and other minority ethnicities, middle-aged adults, adults with ≤ 7 years of education, and in Northern and Midwestern capitals are estimated to have higher obesity prevalence by 2030. Our findings indicate a sustained increase in the obesity epidemic in all sociodemographic subgroups and across the country. Obesity may reach three out of 10 adults by 2030.