Physical fitness and psychological health in overweight/obese children: A cross-sectional study from the ActiveBrains project.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the associations of physical fitness (i.e. cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and speed/agility) with psychological distress and psychological well-being in overweight/obese pre-adolescent children. DESIGN: 110 overweight/obese children (10.0±1.1years old, 61 boys) from the ActiveBrains project (http://profith.ugr.es/activebrains) participated in this cross-sectional study. METHODS: Physical fitness was evaluated by the ALPHA battery test. Cardiorespiratory fitness was additionally evaluated by a maximal incremental treadmill. Stress was assessed by the Children's Daily Stress Inventory, anxiety by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, depression by the Children Depression Inventory, positive affect and negative affect by the Positive and Negative Affect Scale for Children, happiness by the Subjective Happiness Scale, optimism by the Life Orientation Test, and self-esteem by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem questionnaire. Linear regression adjusted for sex and peak height velocity was used to examine associations. RESULTS: Absolute upper-body muscular strength was negatively associated with stress and negative affect (ß=-0.246, p=0.047; ß=-0.329, p=0.010, respectively). Furthermore, absolute lower-body muscular strength was negatively associated with negative affect (ß=-0.301, p=0.029). Cardiorespiratory fitness, expressed by the last completed lap, and relative upper-body muscular strength were positively associated with optimism (ß=0.220, p=0.042; ß=0.240, p=0.017, respectively). Finally, absolute upper-body muscular strength was positively associated with self-esteem (ß=0.362, p=0.003) independently of sex and weight status (p for interactions >0.3), and absolute lower-body muscular strength was also positively associated with self-esteem (ß=0.352, p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Muscular strength was associated with psychological distress (i.e. stress and negative affect) and psychological well-being (i.e. optimism and self-esteem) as well as cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with optimism. Therefore, increased levels of physical fitness, specifically muscular strength, could have significant benefits for overweight/obese children psychological health.

Behavioral predictors of attrition in adolescents participating in a multidisciplinary obesity treatment program: EVASYON study.

The aims of this study were to identify the cognitive and behavioral predictors of dropping out and to estimate the attrition rate during different phases of an intervention program to treat overweight and obesity in adolescents. Overweight/obese adolescents (n=156, aged: 13-16 years; 71 male and 85 female subjects) were included in a multicomponent (diet, physical activity and psychological support) family-based group treatment program. At baseline and after 2 months (intensive phase) and 13 months (extensive phase) of follow-up, we measured adolescents' cognitive and behavioral dimensions, together with the parents' perception of their child's behavior. Of the 156 adolescents selected, 112 completed the full program (drop-out rate of 28.2%). The risk of dropping out during the extensive phase increased by 20% for each unit increase in the adolescent's social insecurity score (odds ratio=1.20, 95% confidence interval=1.07-1.34, P=0.002). The adolescents who had a high interoceptive awareness showed a significant decrease of 13.0% in the probability of dropping out (odds ratio=0.87, 95% confidence interval=0.77-0.99, P=0.040). Adolescents' social insecurity was the main predictor of drop-out in a multicomponent family-group-based obesity treatment program. To reduce attrition rates in these programs, the individual's social insecurity level needs to be reduced, whereas the family's awareness of eating-related behavior needs adjustment.

Health-related physical fitness is associated with total and central body fat in preschool children aged 3 to 5 years.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether health-related physical fitness is associated with total and central body fat in preschool children. METHODS: A total of 403 Spanish children aged 3-5 years (57.8% boys) participated in the study. Health-related physical fitness was measured by the PREFIT battery: the handgrip strength and the standing long-jump tests (muscular strength), the 4 × 10 m shuttle run (speed-agility), the one-leg stance tests (balance) and the PREFIT-20 m shuttle run test (cardiorespiratory fitness). Body mass index and waist circumference were used as markers of total and central body fat, respectively. RESULTS: There were significant associations between all health-related physical fitness tests and body mass index (ß = 0.280 ± 0.054, ß = -0.020 ± 0.006, ß = 0.154 ± 0.065 and ß = -0.034 ± 0.011 for the handgrip strength, standing long jump, 4 × 10 m shuttle run and PREFIT-20 m shuttle run tests, respectively, all P ≤ 0.019) after adjusting for sex and age. Similarly, there was significant associations of standing long jump (ß = -0.072 ± 0.014), 4 × 10 m shuttle run (ß = 0.652 ± 0.150) and PREFIT-20 m shuttle run tests (ß = -0.102 ± 0.025) with waist circumference (all P ≤ 0.001), except for handgrip strength (ß = 0.254 ± 0.145, P = 0.081) and one-leg stance (ß = -0.012 ± 0.009, P = 0.156). CONCLUSIONS: The present study extends previous findings in older youth. Fitness assessment should be introduced in future epidemiological and intervention studies in preschool children because it seems to be an important factor determining health.

Efectos de los programas de intervención enfocados al tratamiento del sobrepeso/obesidad infantil y adolescente / Effects of intervention programs focused on the treatment of overweight/obese children and adolescents

El objetivo del presente estudio fue realizar una revisión sistemática de la efectividad de los programas de intervención basados en actividad física (AF) y control dietético sobre el sobrepeso y/u obesidad en población infantil y adolescente. La búsqueda bibliográfica fue realizada en bases de datos electrónicas abarcando el período comprendido entre el 1 de julio de 2006 y el 30 de abril de 2012. Del total de 1.696 estudios encontrados inicialmente, se incluyeron 28 artículos que describieron 23 programas de AF y orientación alimentaria destinados a niños y adolescentes con sobrepeso/obesidad. Diecisiete programas fueron dirigidos a niños y adolescentes y 6 fueron diseñados específicamente para adolescentes. En 10 de los estudios, la condición física (CF) fue adicionalmente valorada. Los resultados parecen señalar que la AF asociada con orientación nutricional produce efectos positivos en la reducción del peso e índice de masa corporal (IMC). Resaltamos la necesidad de diseñar programas específicos para adolescentes, así como valorar objetivamente la eficacia de dichos programas a largo plazo en poblaciones de niños y adolescentes con sobrepeso/ obesidad (AU)

The aim of this study was to realize one systemic review the effectiveness of intervention programs which were based on physical activity (PA) and dietary control of overweight and/or obese children and adolescents. The literature search was conducted in electronic databases covering the time period between July 1th, 2006 to April 30th, 2012. From 1,696 studies initially reviewed, 28 articles describing 23 programs were included. We have included studies with exercise programs and nutritional counseling for overweight and/or obese children and adolescents. Interventions which were excluded were those which involved the use of drugs, studies conducted in adolescents with hormonal disorders and eating disorders, book chapters, conference proceedings and dissertations. Seventeen programs were targeted towards children and adolescents and six were designed specifically for adolescents. In ten studies, the physical fitness (PF) was further assessed. Due the methodological heterogeneity found, these results are insufficient to determine the effectiveness of intervention programs regarding PA and diet. The results seem to indicate that AF associated with nutrition counseling has positive effects on reducing weight and body mass index (BMI). We emphasize the need to design specific programs for adolescents, as well as the as well assess the effectiveness of long term programs in populations of children and adolescents with overweight and obesity (AU)

Extracurricular physical activity participation modifies the association between high TV watching and low bone mass.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether different sedentary behaviours are associated with the risk of low bone mineral content in adolescents, and if so, whether extracurricular physical-sporting activity influences this association. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 277 adolescents from Zaragoza (168 females and 109 males) aged 13.0-18.5 yr within frame work of the multicentre AVENA study participated in this study. Bone mineral content (BMC), lean mass, and fat mass were measured with DXA. Physical activity and sedentary independent variables: participation in extracurricular physical-sporting activity (PA), h/d of television watching, playing video/computer games during school days and on weekend days and doing homework/studying. They all were assessed by questionnaire. The main outcome was low BMC, as defined by BMC Z-score for age and sex < percentile 10. Logistic regression was used to test the interaction and association of PA and sedentary variables with low BMC, after controlling for confounders like height, maturational status or lean mass. RESULTS: Among the sedentary variables studied, only television watching > or =3 h/d was associated with an increased risk for low BMC in males (OR, 95% CI: 7.01, 1.73 to 28.40), after controlling for sexual maturation. When PA was in the models, television watching was not any longer associated with low BMC, while PA was so (OR, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.09 to 0.55). Involvement in such activity reduced the risk of low bone mass by 76% (P<0.01) independently of body mass, height and fat mass, but not of the lean mass. CONCLUSION: Watching television for 3 or more h/d seems to be associated with an increased risk for low BMC in male adolescents. However, this association is mediated by participation in PA, suggesting that negative consequences of excessive television watching on adolescent bone health could be counteracted by sport participation. Longitudinal data and randomized controlled trials will confirm or contrast our findings.

Shifts in clostridia, bacteroides and immunoglobulin-coating fecal bacteria associated with weight loss in obese adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a multidisciplinary obesity treatment programme on fecal microbiota composition and immunoglobulin-coating bacteria in overweight and obese adolescents and their relationship to weight loss. DESIGN: Longitudinal intervention study based on both a calorie-restricted diet (calorie reduction=10-40%) and increased physical activity (calorie expenditure=15-23 kcal/kg body weight per week) for 10 weeks. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-nine overweight and obese adolescents (BMI mean 33.1 range 23.7-50.4; age mean 14.8 range, 13.0-16.0). MEASUREMENTS: BMI, BMI z-scores and plasma biochemical parameters were measured before and after the intervention. Fecal microbiota was analyzed by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Immunoglobulin-coating bacteria were detected using fluorescent-labelled F(ab')2 antihuman IgA, IgG and IgM. RESULTS: Reductions in Clostridium histolyticum and E. rectale-C. coccoides proportions significantly correlated with weight and BMI z-score reductions in the whole adolescent population. Proportions of C. histolyticum, C. lituseburense and E. rectale-C. coccoides dropped significantly whereas those of the Bacteroides-Prevotella group increased after the intervention in those adolescents who lost more than 4 kg. Total fecal energy was almost significantly reduced in the same group of adolescents but not in the group that lost less than 2.5 kg. IgA-coating bacterial proportions also decreased significantly in participants who lost more than 6 kg after the intervention, paralleled to reductions in C. histolyticum and E. rectale-C. coccoides populations. E. rectale-C. coccoides proportions also correlated with weight loss and BMI z-score reduction in participants whose weight loss exceeded 4 kg. CONCLUSIONS: Specific gut bacteria and an associated IgA response were related to body weight changes in adolescents under lifestyle intervention. These results suggest interactions between diet, gut microbiota and host metabolism and immunity in obesity.

Entorno y desarrollo / No disponible

El desarrollo y crecimiento de cualquier individuo viene inducido por su carga genética ypor los factores ambientales en los que se desenvuelve. La interacción de ambos factores puedeinfluir positiva o negativamente sobre su desarrollo y maduración esquelética.La hipótesis de partida de este trabajo fue determinar si este ambiente donde el menor crecetiene una influencia directa sobre él y su desarrollo. Como objetivo nos marcamos el verificar sitanto los parámetros de salud como los sociodemográficos se correlacionaban con su desarrollo.Se trata de un estudio transversal realizado en el ámbito de Granada, concretamente en elHospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves de Granada.El tamaño de la muestra ha sido de 100 casos (43 niñas y 57 niños). Para ello se realizarondiferentes análisis: univariante, bivariante y multivariante.Hemos encontrado que algunos hábitos pueden mostrar cierta influencia negativa durantela gestación, como el consumo de tabaco durante el embarazo. Por el contrario, la práctica dedeporte y la ingesta de determinados nutrientes, como el pan, parecen tener cierta significaciónpositiva

The development and growth of any individual is induced by its genetic load and by theenvironmental factors during growth. Interaction of both items can influence positively or negativelyits development and skeletal maturation. The departure hypothesis of this work was to determine if the environment where the childgrows has a direct influence on his development. The aim of this work was to verify if healthand socio-demography parameters were correlated with child development.It is a cross-sectional study made in children from Granada, specifically in the Hospital Virgende las Nieves. The sample size was of 100 cases (43 children and 57 children). We performedan univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis.We have found that some habits can show certain negative influence during the gestation,like tobacco consumption during pregnancy. On the contrary, the practice of sports and the ingestionof certain nutrients, like bread, seem to have certain positive influence

Incremento del consumo de tabaco y disminución del nivel de práctica de actividad física en adolescentes españoles. Estudio AVENA / Increase in cigarette smoking and decrease in the level of physcial activity among spanish adolescents. AVENA study

Objetivo: El consumo de tabaco entre los adolescentes así como la disminución de los niveles de práctica de actividad física constituyen un problema de salud pública. El objetivo es conocer la relación existente entre el consumo de tabaco y la práctica de actividad física. Ámbito: Adolescentes españoles escolarizados. Sujetos: 2.859 adolescentes españoles (1.357 hombres, 1.502 mujeres; rango de edad: 13-18,5 años) Intervenciones: Se aplica un cuestionario para conocer el consumo de tabaco y otros cuatro cuestionarios para conocer la práctica de actividad física en diferentes periodos de tiempo. Resultados: Un 40,8% de los adolescentes indicaron no practicar actividad física, mostrándose los varones más activos que las mujeres (p < 0,001). Un 29,9% de los adolescentes indicaron consumir tabaco habitualmente, no existiendo diferencias en función del sexo. Tanto en varones como en mujeres, los adolescentes activos manifiestan un menor consumo de tabaco (P <= 0,01). A mayor edad mayor consumo de tabaco y menor práctica de actividad física, tanto en varones como en mujeres (p < 0,001). Conclusiones: Los niveles de práctica de actividad física son bajos, siendo menores aún en el caso de las chicas. El consumo de tabaco muestra relación inversa con la práctica de actividad física, resultando los sujetos más activos físicamente los menos consumidores de tabaco

Objective: Cigarette smoking among adolescents as well as the level of physical activity constitutes a public health care issue. The aim is knowing the relationship between cigarette smoking and practice of physical activity. Setting: Schooled Spanish adolescents Subjects: 2859 Spanish adolescents (1357 boys, 1502 girls; age range: 13-18.5 years). Interventions: A questionnaire is applied to know the level of cigarette smoking and four other questionnaires to know the level of physical activity during different periods. Results: 40.8% of the adolescents stated not doing any physical activity at all, boys being more active than girls (p < 0.001). 29.9% of the adolescents stated usually smoking cigarettes, without differences by gender. Both active boys and girls stated smoking less (P <= 0.01). The greater the age, the higher cigarette smoking and the lower the level of physical activity, both in boys and girls (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The level of physical activity is low, being even lower for girls. Cigarette smoking shows a negative relationship with the level of physical activity, the individuals more physically active being those smoking the less

[Increase in cigarette smoking and decrease in the level of physical activity among Spanish adolescentes. AVENA study]. / Incremento del consumo de tabaco y disminución del nivel de práctica de actividad física en adolescentes españoles. Estudio AVENA.

OBJECTIVE: Cigarette smoking among adolescents as well as the level of physical activity constitutes a public health care issue. The aim is knowing the relationship between cigarette smoking and practice of physical activity. SETTING: Schooled Spanish adolescents SUBJECTS: 2859 Spanish adolescents (1357 boys, 1502 girls; age range: 13-18.5 years). INTERVENTIONS: A questionnaire is applied to know the level of cigarette smoking and four other questionnaires to know the level of physical activity during different periods. RESULTS: 40.8% of the adolescents stated not doing any physical activity at all, boys being more active than girls (p < 0.001). 29.9% of the adolescents stated usually smoking cigarettes, without differences by gender. Both active boys and girls stated smoking less (P < or = 0.01). The greater the age, the higher cigarette smoking and the lower the level of physical activity, both in boys and girls (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The level of physical activity is low, being even lower for girls. Cigarette smoking shows a negative relationship with the level of physical activity, the individuals more physically active being those smoking the less.