Relationship between bone mineral density, leptin and insulin concentration in Brazilian obese adolescents.

Despite the epidemic of adolescent obesity, the effect of obesity and hormones on bone mineral accrual during growth is poorly understood. Studies using dual-energy X-ray to examine the effect of obesity on bone mass in children and adolescents have yielded conflicting results. The aim of this study was to explore the combined and independent contributions of body mass index, body composition, leptin, insulin, glucose levels and Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) to bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content in a group of Brazilian obese adolescents. This study included 109 post-pubescent obese adolescents. A whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan was performed,using a HOLOGIC QDR4200, to determine whole-body BMD and body composition. Blood samples were collected in the outpatient clinic after an overnight fast, and evaluated for fasting blood glucose and immunoreactive insulin. Leptin levels were assessed with a radioimmunoassay kit. Insulin resistance was assessed by HOMA-IR and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index. Our results showed that insulin levels and HOMA-IR correlated negatively with BMD and a linear regression analysis showed that serum leptin is inversely associated to BMD adjusted for body mass. In conclusion, our data support the hypothesis that leptin, insulin and HOMA-IR are inversely associated with BMD and play a significant direct role in bone metabolism.

Efeito do exercício de força sobre a adiposidade periférica e visceral, perfil lipídico, glicídico e hormonal em adolescentes obesos / Effect of strenght exercise in periferic and visceral adiposity, lipidic, glicidic and hormonal profile in obese adolescents

Objetivo: Verificar as possíveis alterações provocadas pelos exercícios de força sobre a adiposidade periférica e visceral, perfil lipídico, glicídico e respostas hormonais, após f doze semanas de intervenção, em adolescentes obesos. Métodos: Foram selecionados 126 adolescentes, de ambos os gêneros, com idade entre 14 e 19 anos, sedentários, e índice de massa corporal (IMC)≥95th; distribuídas em quatro grupos: controle (sem exercício físico), recreação, exercícios aeróbios e exercícios de força. Realizaram exercícios físicos durante 12 semanas, três sessões semanais com duração de uma hora. O grupo recreação não controlou a intensidade do treinamento aeróbio treinou na intensidade do Limiar Ventilatório-I, o grupo força treinou a 70 por cento de uma repetição máxima (1 RM). A gordura corporal total, subcutânea e massa livre de gordura foram avaliadas por absorciometria de feixe duplo de raios-X (DEXA), a gordura visceral por ultrassonografia. O perfil lipídico pelo método de comparativo calorimétrico e o perfil hormonal por radioimunoinsaio. Resultados: Em relação à composição corporal, após doze semanas de tratamento, o treinamento de força promoveu uma redução significativa no IMC, massa corporal, gordura visceral e subcutânea nos meninos. No grupo aeróbio também observamos uma redução significativa na massa corporal, gordura corporal e subcutânea de meninos e somente gordura corporal em meninas. Houve preservação de massa magra em todos os grupos e gêneros. Quanto ao perfil lipídico, o treinamento aeróbio diminuiu o colesterol total e LDL-c em ambos os gêneros. A atividade de recreação reduziu os níveis plasmáticos de glicose e insulina, bem como o HOMA, somente nas meninas. Conclusões: Após 12 semanas de treinamento os exercícios de força foram mais eficientes em meninos, sobre a composição corporal, enquanto que para colesterol total e LDL-c o exercício aeróbio foi mais eficiente em ambos os gêneros.

Depression, anxiety and quality of life scores in seniors after an endurance exercise program.

OBJECTIVE: Mood disorders are a frequent problem in old age, and their symptoms constitute an important public health issue. These alterations affect the quality of life mainly by restricting social life. The participation in a regular exercise program is an effective way of reducing or preventing the functional decline associated with aging. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of fitness-endurance activity (at the intensity of Ventilatory Threshold 1 (VT-1)) in depression, anxiety and quality of life scores in seniors. METHODS: The study involved 46 sedentary seniors aged 60-75 (66.97 +/- 4.80) who were randomly allocated to two groups: 1) Control group, which was neither asked to vary their everyday activities nor to join a regular physical fitness program; and 2) Experimental group, whose members took part in an aerobic fitness program consisting of ergometer cycle sessions 3 times a week on alternate days for six months working at a heart rate corresponding to ventilatory threshold (VT-1) intensity. Subjects were submitted to a basal evaluation using the geriatric depression screening scale--GDS, STAI trait/state (anxiety scale) and SF-36 (quality of life scale). RESULTS: Comparing the groups after the study period, we found a significant decrease in depressive and anxiety scores and an improvement in the quality of life in the experimental group, but no significant changes in the control group. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that an aerobic exercise program at VT-1 intensity suffices to promote favorable modifications in depressive and anxiety scores to improve the quality of life in seniors.

Escores de depressão, ansiedade e qualidade de vida em idosos após um programa de exercícios aeróbios / Depression, anxiety and quality of life scores in seniors after an endurance exercise program

OBJECTIVE: Mood disorders are a frequent problem in old age, and their symptoms constitute an important public health issue. These alterations affect the quality of life mainly by restricting social life. The participation in a regular exercise program is an effective way of reducing or preventing the functional decline associated with aging. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of fitness-endurance activity (at the intensity of Ventilatory Threshold 1 (VT-1)) in depression, anxiety and quality of life scores in seniors. METHODS: The study involved 46 sedentary seniors aged 60-75 (66.97 ± 4.80) who were randomly allocated to two groups: 1) Control group, which was neither asked to vary their everyday activities nor to join a regular physical fitness program; and 2) Experimental group, whose members took part in an aerobic fitness program consisting of ergometer cycle sessions 3 times a week on alternate days for six months working at a heart rate corresponding to ventilatory threshold (VT-1) intensity. Subjects were submitted to a basal evaluation using the geriatric depression screening scale - GDS, STAI trait/state (anxiety scale) and SF-36 (quality of life scale). RESULTS: Comparing the groups after the study period, we found a significant decrease in depressive and anxiety scores and an improvement in the quality of life in the experimental group, but no significant changes in the control group. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that an aerobic exercise program at VT-1 intensity suffices to promote favorable modifications in depressive and anxiety scores to improve the quality of life in seniors.

OBJETIVO: Transtornos de humor são problemas freqüentes na população idosa. Seus sintomas representam uma importante questão de saúde pública e afetam substancialmente a qualidade de vida, principalmente por restringir atividades sociais. A participação em um programa de exercícios físicos regulares parece ser efetiva em reduzir e prevenir o declínio funcional decorrente do envelhecimento. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi examinar o efeito de um programa de exercício físico aeróbio na intensidade do limiar ventilatório 1 (VT-1) nos escores indicativos de depressão e ansiedade e na qualidade de vida de idosos saudáveis. MÉTODOS: O estudo envolveu 46 voluntários sedentários saudáveis com idades entre 60-75 (66,97 ± 4,80), que foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em dois grupos: 1) Controle, que foi orientado a não alterar suas atividades rotineiras e a não se engajar em um programa de exercício físicos e 2) Experimental, que participou de programa de exercício em bicicleta ergométrica, três vezes por semana, em dias alternados, na intensidade do VT-1, por seis meses. Os voluntários foram submetidos a uma avaliação utilizando-se um screening composto pelas escalas: GDS (depressão), STAI traço/estado (ansiedade) e SF-36 (qualidade de vida). RESULTADOS: A comparação dos grupos após o período de estudo revelou que o grupo experimental obteve redução dos escores de depressão e ansiedade e aumento da qualidade de vida, enquanto que no grupo controle não foram observadas alterações. CONCLUSÃO: Os dados sugerem que um programa de exercício em bicicleta ergométrica na intensidade do VT-1 é suficiente para promover modificações favoráveis nos escores indicativos de depressão e ansiedade e melhorar a qualidade de vida de idosos.

Indexes of power and aerobic capacity obtained in cycle ergometry and treadmill running: comparisons between sedentary, runners, cyclists and triathletes

The objectives of this study were: a) to determine, in a cross-sectional manner, the effect of aerobic training on the peak oxygen uptake...

Metabolic and ventilatory parameters of four activities of daily living accomplished with arms in COPD patients.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The upper limbs are involved in the activities of daily living (ADLs). Normal subjects usually perform such activities without noticing the energy cost, but patients with COPD report tiredness when performing them. This study was designed to assess the metabolic and ventilatory demands in patients with COPD during the performance of four ADLs involving the upper limbs. DESIGN: The patients were tested on two different days. Oxygen uptake (O(2)), carbon dioxide output (CO(2)), minute ventilation (E), and heart rate were measured while performing four ADLs for 5 min each: sweeping, erasing a blackboard, lifting pots, and replacing lamps. PARTICIPANTS: Ten normal, young, male subjects (mean age, 27.9 years) were selected for testing the reproducibility of the methods, and 9 male patients with COPD (FEV(1), 32.5%; mean age, 58.9 years) entered the study. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The tests were reproducible for both groups. Patients with COPD presented a significant increase (p < 0.05) in O(2) (mean, 50.2% of maximum O(2)) and in E (mean, 55.7% of maximum voluntary ventilation [MVV]) in relation to initial resting conditions for all four activities. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that when performing these four activities, patients with moderate-to-severe COPD present a high O(2), which may explain the tiredness reported by them during simple activities involving the upper limbs; the high E/MVV may be associated to dyspnea.