Anthropometric Characteristics of Tunisian Population in Comparison to the World.

BACKGROUND: Anthropometry is the one and only universally applicable, inexpensive and non-invasive method for studying the proportions of the human body. Anthropometric measurements reflect nutritional status and health, but can also be used to predict skills, health status and survival. It is therefore a reliable tool, but currently underused, to guide public health policies. AIM: Therefore, this study investigated anthropometric characters of Tunisian people and compared it with those of other nationalities. METHODS: 429 subjects have participated in this study (322 men and 107 women), aged between 20 and 85. Anthropometric measurements used in this study were body mass, body size, thigh circumference, lower limbs length and body mass index. RESULTS: With an average body size of 171 cm for men and 157 cm for women, Tunisians were close to neighboring countries. Nevertheless, with a body mass of 77.23 kg and 72.66 kg and a BMI of 26.48 and 29.18 respectively for men and women, Tunisia has the highest prevalence of obesity in the region, especially for women. Several anthropometric correlations have also been noticed such as relationships between thigh circumference, BMI, body mass, lower limbs length, and body size. CONCLUSION: Obesity is proving to be a public health problem for which effective strategies and measures are needed.

Effect of diet and diet combined with chronic aerobic exercise on chemerin plasma concentrations and adipose tissue in obese women.

OBJECTIVE: Chemerin concentrations are elevated in obesity and associated with inflammation and insulin resistance. Exercise improves insulin sensitivity, which may be facilitated by changes in chemerin. We explored the effects of 24 -week aerobic exercise program, diet and both combined on serum and abdominal adipose tissue (AT) chemerin, and adiponectin concentrations in obese women. METHODS: Thirty volunteers participated in a 24-week intervention whereby the women were randomly categorised into three groups: 1) exercise (EX), 2) diet (DI) and 3) exercise and diet group (EXD). Blood samples were taken before and after 12-week and 24-week of the intervention. Adipose Tissue (AT) biopsies were gathered only at baseline and at the end of the experiment. RESULTS: We found increases in VO2max in EXD (21.8 and 39.5%, p < 0.05) and in the EX group (18.1 and 41%, p < 0.05) after the 12 and 24-week training, respectively. Chemerin circulating levels were reduced in EXD and DI groups, after 24-week training program (p < 0.01). HOMA-R decreased only in the EXD group (p < 0.05). However, circulating adiponectin increased in both EXD and DI groups after 24-week training (p < 0.01). After 6 months training, AT biopsies showed decreases in chemerin levels in EXD and DI groups (p < 0.01). No changes in AT biopsies were observed in EX group. Nevertheless, adiponectin increased (p < 0.05) in AT. CONCLUSION: Aerobic training and diet, whether applied exclusively or combined have an impact on circulating or AT levels of adiponectin and chemerin in to the exclusion of the EX group. Therefore The 24-week training program and diet used in this study was very effective for producing significant benefits to body composition, insulin resistance and lipids profile, as well as lowering chemerin levels in these obese women. Therefore, our data suggests that chemerin serum concentrations are associated with insulin resistance.

Kinematic analysis of the shot-put: A method of assessing the mechanical work of the hand action force.

The aims of this study were to (1) propose a method for evaluating shot-putters mechanical power, (2) investigate the relationship between mechanical work of hand action force (WHAF), peak power output (PPO) of different limbs and shot-put performance and (3) show which of these two parameters (WHAF, PPO) were the most appropriate to characterize the explosive abilities of the shot-putter. Twelve junior right-handed shot-putters, practised glide technique shot-put throwers (personal best = 13.57 ± 1.72 m), participated in this study. Arm and leg force-velocity tests were performed to measure PPO. Kinematic analysis was conducted during a shot-putting event in regular conditions to quantify the WHAF at the release moment and shot-put performance. Significant correlations were found between absolute arm and leg PPO with upper and lower muscle volumes (r = .67; p = .03; r = .76; p = .01; r = .74, p = .01; r = .65, p = .04). Positive relationships were recorded between absolute arm and leg PPO and shot-put performance (r = .67, p = .02; r = .81, p = .004, respectively). Shot-put performance was also closely related to the WHAF (r = .93, p = .0001) and release velocity parameter (r = .86, p = .001). The present results confirm that force-velocity test and WHAF constitute useful tools for assessing mechanical power in throwing. The WHAF could be considered as more suitable than force-velocity test.