The impact of early sports participation on body fatness in adulthood is not mediated by current physical activity.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to analyze the relationship between early sports participation (ESP) and body fatness (BF) in adults, as well as to identify whether this possible relationship is directly influenced by the current physical activity (PA) level. METHODS: This cross-sectional study combined baseline data of two cohort. The BF estimated by DXA. The ESP, the subjects reported the engagement in sports during childhood (7-10 years) and adolescence (11-17 years) through two yes/no questions and current PA (described as steps) was device-measured using pedometers. Were identified as potential covariates and therefore adjusted the multivariate models: age, ethnicity, alcohol consumption, smoking, and sleep quality. Statistical analysis consisted of the chi-square test, analysis of variance/covariance, and structural equation modeling (software BioEstat version 5.0; p-value < .05). RESULTS: Adults engaged in ESP had lower BF; among women, the variance in BF explained by ESP was 25.5%; among men, it was 9.2%. Sports participation in early life (r = -.436 [95% CI: -0.527 to -0.346]) and current PA (r = -.431 [95% CI: -0.522 to -0.340]) were inversely related to BF, as well as positively related to each other (r = .328 [95% CI: 0.226 to 0.430]). In the mediation model, current PA partially mediated (18.5%) the impact of ESP on BF, while current PA and ESP remained relevant determinants of BF. CONCLUSION: Early sports participation and current PA have a significant impact on BF in adulthood, which is of similar magnitude and independent of each other.

Relationship between vigorous physical activity and health care costs among adolescents: ABCD Growth Study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between physical activity and health care costs among adolescents is not yet clear in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between physical activity and annual health care costs among adolescents. METHODS: The present sample was composed of 85 adolescents of both sexes with ages ranging from 11 to 18 years (mean age 15.6 ± 2.1). Health care costs were self-reported every month for 12 months, and information on health care values was verified with local pharmacies, private health care plans, and the National Health Service. The time spent in different physical activity intensities was objectively measured by accelerometers. Confounding variables were: sex, age, somatic maturation, body fatness, blood pressure, and components of dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. Multivariate models were generated using generalized linear models with gamma distribution and a log-link function. RESULTS: The overall annual health care cost was US$ 733.60/ R$ 2,342.38 (medication: US$ 400.46 / R$ 1,278.66; primary and secondary care: US$ 333.14 / R$ 1,063.70). The time spent in vigorous physical activity (minutes/day) was negatively related to health care costs (r = -0.342 [95% CI: -0.537,-0.139]; ß = -0.06 cents (95% CI: -0.089, -0.031). CONCLUSION: Vigorous physical activity seems to be associated with lower health care costs among adolescents.

Participation in Non-professional Sports and Cardiovascular Outcomes Among Adolescents: ABCD Growth Study.

OBJECTIVES: Sports are an important way to improve health during adolescence. However, it is still unclear whether the association between sports, blood pressure, and metabolic profile could be affected by sex, biological maturation, and trunk fatness. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between sports participation and the cluster of cardiovascular markers among adolescents of both sexes. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 285 adolescents aged from 11 to 17 years of age (202 boys and 83 girls). Cardiovascular variables were composed of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), resting heart rate (RHR), and carotid (CIMT) and femoral (FIMT) intima-media thickness, which were used to calculate the CardiovascularZ score. Sports participation was assessed through a face-to-face interview. Age of peak height velocity (APHV) was used as a covariate. RESULTS: Among girls, the group engaged in sports presented lower values of RHR (sport: - 0.344 [95% CI - 0.650 to - 0.037] versus non-sport: 0.540 [95% CI 0.125 to 0.954]) and CardiovascularZ score (sport: - 0.585 [95% CI - 1.329 to 0.159] versus non-sport: 0.879 [95% CI - 0.127 to 1.884]), explaining 12.2% and 6.1% of all variance, respectively. Among boys, the group engaged in sports presented lower values of DBP (sport: - 0.158 [95% CI - 0.335 to 0.018] versus non-sport: 0.160 [95% CI - 0.091 to 0.412]) and FIMT (sport: - 0.128 [95% CI - 0.300 to - 0.044] versus non-sport: 0.211 [95% CI - 0.032 to 0.454]), explaining 2.2% and 2.6% of all variance, respectively. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Adolescents engaged in sports presented healthier cardiovascular parameters, and sports participation seems to affect cardiovascular health differently in boys and girls.

Sedentary behaviour is associated with diabetes mellitus in adults: findings of a cross-sectional analysis from the Brazilian National Health System.

BACKGROUND: Sedentary behaviour (SB) may contribute to the development of several chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM) and all-cause mortality. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between different domains of SB with diabetes among adult users of the Brazilian National Health System (NHS). METHODS: Cross-sectional study from the primary care system of the Brazilian NHS in the city of Bauru, Brazil. SB, physical activity (PA), DM and other chronic diseases were assessed by face-to-face interviews and medical records. As potential confounders in the adjusted model, we used gender, age, economic status, smoking status, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and PA. RESULTS: The study was composed of 147 men and 410 women. The fully adjusted model showed that Brazilian adults spending ≥3 h per day in television viewing (OR = 1.61 [95% CI: 1.11-2.33]) and overall SB (OR = 1.60 [95% CI: 1.09-2.36]) had increased prevalence of DM compared to those spending <3 h per day. CONCLUSIONS: TV viewing and overall SB was associated with higher prevalence of DM in Brazilian adults from the NHS, even after controlling for potential confounders including PA.

Impact of sports participation on mortality rates among Brazilian adults.

Objective: To analyze the possible dose-response association between components of sports participation (intensity, volume and previous engagement) and 4-year mortality rates among Brazilian adults. Methods: 679 males and females (mean age among men = 66.7 ± 9.3 years old and mean age among women = 64.8 ± 8.9 years old) composed the study sample. Sports participation was assessed using Baecke's questionnaire, which considers intensity, duration and previous engagement. Medical records were used to identify the cause of the death. Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the independent associations of exercise components and mortality. Results: Participants that reported exercising at moderate-vigorous intensity (Moderate/vigorous: 4.1% versus None/light: 10.3% [p-value = 0.012]; HR = 0.42 [0.1 to 0.94)] and for more than four months (≥4 months: 5.3% versus <4 months: 10.2% [p-value = 0.038]; HR = 0.47 [0.24 to 0.94]) had lower mortality risk. The percentage of survival according to all-cause mortality was significantly higher for participants engaged in sports at moderate-vigorous intensity (p-value = 0.014), as well as for those engaged in sports for periods superior than four months (p-value = 0.036). Conclusion: We found higher percentage of survival among adults engaged in sports at moderate-vigorous intensity and with at least four months of previous engagement.

Association of TV Viewing and All-Cause Mortality in Older Adults With Hypertension: A 6-Year Longitudinal Study.

The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal association between television (TV) viewing and all-cause mortality in older adults with hypertension. Sedentary behavior, physical activity, hypertension, and other chronic diseases were assessed by face-to-face interviews and confirmed by medical history. Mortality was reported by relatives and confirmed in medical records of the National Health System. The fully adjusted model showed a direct association between high TV viewing time and all-cause mortality; hazard ratio: 1.65 (95% confidence interval [1.02-2.68]). Women with high TV viewing were more likely to die than men. Higher TV viewing time was associated with all-cause mortality among those with diabetes and hypertension; hazard ratio: 3.54 (95% confidence interval [1.64-7.66]). The findings from this longitudinal study show that higher TV viewing time is associated with higher risk for all-cause mortality among older adults with hypertension, independently of physical activity, and other potential confounders.

Sport-based physical activity recommendations and modifications in C-reactive protein and arterial thickness.

We analyzed the effects of 1 year of engagement in ≥ 300 min/week of organized sports on inflammatory levels and vascular structure in adolescents. The sample was composed of 89 adolescents (11.6 ± 0.7 years old [43 boys and 46 girls]), stratified according to engagement in ≥ 300 min/week of sport practice during at least 12 months of follow-up (n = 15, sport practice; n = 74, non-sport practice). Arterial thickness (carotid and femoral) was assessed by ultrasound scan, while high sensitive C-reactive protein levels were used to assess inflammatory status. Trunk fatness (densitometry scanner), biological maturation (age at peak height velocity), blood pressure, and skipping breakfast were treated as covariates. Independently of body fatness and biological maturation, the group engaged in sports presented a higher reduction in C-reactive protein (mean difference -1.559 mg/L [95%CI -2.539 to -0.579]) than the non-sport group (mean difference -0.414 mg/L [95%CI -0.846 to 0.017]) (p = 0.040). There was a significant relationship between changes in C-reactive protein and changes in femoral intima-media thickness in the non-sport group (r = 0.311 [95%CI 0.026 to 0.549]). CONCLUSION: Inflammation decreased in adolescents engaged in organized sports, independently of trunk fatness and biological maturation. Moreover, inflammation was related to arterial thickening only in adolescents not engaged in sports. What is Known: • Intima media thickness is a relevant marker of cardiovascular disease in pediatric groups, being affected by obesity and inflammation. • The importance of monitoring inflammatory markers from childhood is enhanced by the fact that alterations in these inflammatory markers in early life predict inflammation and alterations in carotid IMT in adulthood. What is New: • Anti-inflammatory properties related to physical exercise performed at moderate intensity, on inflammation and alterations in IMT are not clear in pediatric groups. • Due to the importance that sport participation has assumed as a promoter of improvements in health and quality of life, it is necessary to understand its potential benefits for cardiovascular health during human growth.

High blood pressure and sedentary behavior in adolescents are associated even after controlling for confounding factors.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether high blood pressure (HBP) is associated with sedentary behavior in young people even after controlling for potential confounders (gender, age, socioeconomic level, tobacco, alcohol, obesity and physical activity). METHODS: In this epidemiological study, 1231 adolescents were evaluated. Blood pressure was measured with an oscillometric device and waist circumference with an inextensible tape. Sedentary behavior (watching television, computer use and playing video games) and physical activity were assessed by a questionnaire. We used mean and standard deviation to describe the statistical analysis, and the association between HBP and sedentary behavior was assessed by the chi-squared test. Binary logistic regression was used to observe the magnitude of association and cluster analyses (sedentary behavior and abdominal obesity; sedentary behavior and physical inactivity). RESULTS: HBP was associated with sedentary behaviors [odds ratio (OR) = 2.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.41-3.96], even after controlling for various confounders (OR = 1.68, CI = 1.03-2.75). In cluster analysis the combination of sedentary behavior and elevated abdominal obesity contributed significantly to an increased likelihood of having HBP (OR = 13.51, CI 7.21-23.97). CONCLUSIONS: Sedentary behavior was associated with HBP, and excess fat in the abdominal region contributed to the modulation of this association.

Combined association of insufficient physical activity and sleep problems with healthcare costs: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: The magnitude of economic losses attributed to sleep problems and insufficient physical activity (PA) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between insufficient PA, sleep problems, and direct healthcare costs. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between insufficient physical activity (PA), sleep problems, and direct healthcare costs among adults. DESIGN AND SETTING: Adults aged ≥ 50 years attended by the Brazilian National Health Service were tracked from 2010 to 2014. METHODS: Direct healthcare costs were assessed using medical records and expressed in US$. Insufficient PA and sleep problems were assessed through face-to-face interviews. Differences were identified using the analysis of covariance and variance for repeated measures. RESULTS: In total, 454 women and 166 men were enrolled. Sleep problems were reported by 28.9% (95%CI: 25.2% to 32.4%) of the sample, while insufficient PA was reported by 84.8% (95%CI: 82.1% to 87.6%). The combination of sleep problems and insufficient PA explained 2.3% of all healthcare costs spent on these patients from 2010 to 2014, which directly accounts for approximately US$ 4,765.01. CONCLUSION: The combination of sleep problems and insufficient PA plays an important role in increasing direct healthcare costs in adults. Public health stakeholders, policymakers, and health professionals can use these results to reinforce the need for strategies to improve sleep quality and increase PA, especially in nations that finance their National Health Systems.

Impact of cycling and walking on adiposity and healthcare costs among adults: longitudinal study.

Leisure-time physical activity seems relevant to prevent the development of chronic diseases and obesity. However, not much is known about the economic burden of these healthy behaviors, mainly in longitudinal designs. This study aimed to analyze the impact of walking and cycling on leisure-time on adiposity and healthcare costs among adults. This longitudinal study was conducted at a medium-size Brazilian city and included 198 participants with no missing data attended in the Brazilian Unified National Health System. Cycling and walking were assessed by a questionnaire with a face-to-face interview at four time-points (baseline, 6-month, 12-month, and 18-month). Healthcare costs were assessed using medical records. Adiposity markers included waist circumference and body fatness. Over the follow-up period, participants who were more engaged in cycling presented lower body fatness (p-value = 0.028) and healthcare costs (p-value = 0.038). However, in the multivariate model, the impact of cycling on costs was not significant (p-value = 0.507) due to the impact of number of chronic diseases (p-value = 0.001). Cycling on leisure-time is inversely related to adiposity in adults, whereas its role on preventing chronic diseases seems the main pathway linking it to cost mitigation.

The relationship between visceral fat thickness and bone mineral density in sedentary obese children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Among adults, obesity has been positively related to bone mineral density. However, recent findings have pointed out that abdominal obesity could be negatively related to bone density. The above mentioned relationship is not clear among pediatric populations. Therefore, this cross-sectional study analyzed the relationship between thickness of abdominal adipose tissue and bone mineral variables in sedentary obese children and adolescents. METHODS: One hundred and seventy five obese children and adolescents (83 male and 92 female) with ages ranging from 6 to 16 years-old were analyzed. Bone mineral content and density were estimated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and ultrasound equipment which estimated the thickness of the abdominal adipose tissue. Pubertal stage was self-reported by the participants. RESULTS: The mean age was 11.1 (SD=2.6). Thickness of the abdominal adipose tissue was negatively related to bone mineral density (r=-0.17 [r95%CI: -0.03;-0.32]), independent of gender, pubertal stage and other confounders (ß=-0.134±0.042 [ß95%CI: -0.217; -0.050]). CONCLUSIONS: In sedentary obese children and adolescents abdominal obesity is negatively related to bone mineral density, suggesting a potential link between abdominal obesity and osteoporosis.

Comorbidities do not mitigate the effect of habitual physical activity on the reduction of healthcare costs among adults with cardiovascular diseases: A mediation analysis.

BACKGROUND: Habitual Physical activity (HPA) is a non-pharmacological strategy to prevent and control chronic diseases, and it plays an important role in minimizing healthcare costs. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between HPA and healthcare costs from the perspective of the Brazilian National Healthcare System, and to establish the mediating role of comorbidities in this relationship among patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). DESIGN AND SETTING: This longitudinal study was conducted in a medium-sized Brazilian city and included 278 participants assisted by the Brazilian National Healthcare System. METHODS: Information on healthcare costs were obtained from medical records and included primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Comorbidities (diabetes, dyslipidemia, and arterial hypertension) were self-reported, and obesity was confirmed with the percentage of body fat. HPA was measured using a questionnaire (Baecke questionnaire). Face-to-face interviews provided information on sex, age, and education level. Statistical analysis included linear regression and Structural Equation Modeling, significance was set at 5 % and the Stata software (version 16.0) was used to perform the analysis. RESULTS: The sample included 278 adults with a mean age of 54.49 (8.32) years. For each score of HPA, there was a reduction in healthcare costs of US$ 83.99/24 months (95 % CI: - 159.15; - 8.84), and the sum of comorbidities did not mediate this relationship. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that healthcare costs seem to be affected by HPA among patients with CVD, while this phenomenon seems not to be mediated by the sum of comorbidities.

Habitual physical activity minimizes healthcare costs resulting from comorbidities among adults with cardiovascular diseases.

BACKGROUND: Habitual physical activity (HPA) can be used as a non-pharmacological strategy to prevent and control chronic diseases, as well as playing a role in minimizing healthcare costs. OBJECTIVE: To verify the impact of HPA on healthcare costs at different levels of care, over 24 months, in an adult population with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including individuals with or without comorbidities. METHODS: Two-hundred and seventy-eight adults with CVD, aged between 30 and 65 years, participated in the study. Information on healthcare costs was obtained from medical records and included primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Comorbidities such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, and obesity were registered. HPA was measured using the Baecke questionnaire. Comparisons between groups were performed using Student's t (

Interrelationship between arterial hypertension, health service costs, therapeutic treatment and physical activity.

BACKGROUND: Arterial hypertension is a high prevalence disease that increase healthcare costs and affects physical activity level. This study aimed to analyse the interrelationship between arterial hypertension, health service costs, therapeutic treatment, and physical activity in patients with cardiovascular diseases. METHOD: Cross-sectional study that evaluated 306 patients from a hospital in Presidente Prudente-Brazil. Based on their medical diagnosis, they were classified into multiple groups to access primary care and hospital-related costs variations. Then, using data from medical records and face to face interviews, they were examined on their treatment adherence and physical activity practice. Healthcare costs were accessed using medical records. Finally, the generalised linear model was used to analyse the interrelationship between treatment adherence, physical activity, health care costs and arterial hypertension. The data were analysed with Stata/MP4 16, and a p-value of less than 5% was used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: The group that adhered to the arterial hypertension treatments but were physically inactive presented higher costs with consultation (US$=24.1, 95%CI = 1.90;46,3)​​ medication (US$=56.60, 95%CI = 1.65; 111.5) and total primary health care costs (US$=71.60, 95%CI = 19.2; 123.9) even after adjusting for confounding variables, meanwhile those participants that adhered to the treatments and were physical active did not present difference in healthcare cost when compared to normotensive and physical active participants. CONCLUSION: To be adherent to hypertension treatment were related to higher health care costs meanwhile been physical activity were related to lower health care costs and the combination of both showed that be adherent and physical activity represent the same cost with health than those normotensive and active emphasizing the importance of adherence and physical activity in the hypertensive treatment.

Sedentary behavior, abdominal obesity and healthcare costs in Brazilian adults with cardiovascular diseases: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Research on the economic burden of sedentary behavior and abdominal obesity on health expenses associated with cardiovascular diseases is scarce. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to verify whether sedentary behavior, isolated and combined with abdominal obesity, influences the medication expenditure among adults with cardiovascular diseases. DESIGN AND SETTING: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the city of President Prudente, State of São Paulo, Brazil in 2018. METHODS: The study included adults with cardiovascular diseases, aged 30-65 years, who were treated by the Brazilian National Health Services. Sedentary behavior was assessed using a questionnaire. Abdominal obesity was defined by waist circumference. Medication expenditures were verified using the medical records of each patient. RESULTS: The study included a total of 307 adults. Individuals classified in the group with risk factor obesity combined (median [IQ] USD$ 29.39 [45.77]) or isolated (median [IQ] USD$ 27.17 [59.76]) to sedentary behavior had higher medication expenditures than those belonging to the non-obese with low sedentary behavior group (median [IQ] USD$ 13.51 [31.42]) (P = 0.01). The group with combined obesity and sedentary behavior was 2.4 (95%CI = 1.00; 5.79) times more likely to be hypertensive. CONCLUSION: Abdominal obesity was a determining factor for medication expenses, regardless of sedentary behavior, among adults with cardiovascular diseases.

Low Occurrence of Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Swimming? Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Sports Participation in Adolescents: Cross Sectional Study (ABCD-Growth Study).

The purpose of this paper was to identify the association between the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms (MS) and sports participation in adolescents. The sample included 193 adolescents (11 to 17 years of age; 131 boys and 62 girls). For this cross-sectional study, participants were categorized into four groups: "no-sports", "repetitive non-impact sports", "high-impact sports", and "odd-impact sports". A questionnaire was used, which defined MS as pain or any musculoskeletal complaint that led to restriction of current normal activities. In the entire sample, 112 adolescents reported at least one episode of MS during the recording, representing 58% of the sample. Our findings highlight that adolescents regularly engaged in odd-impact sports, such as martial arts, report a higher occurrence of MS than swimmers and adolescents who do not participate in any physical activity.

Productivity Loss, Healthcare Costs, and Habitual Physical Activity Among Adults With Cardiovascular Diseases.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study are to quantify the relationship between productivity loss and healthcare costs among adults with cardiovascular diseases and also to verify whether habitual physical activity (HPA) modulates this relationship. METHODS: Information was obtained about healthcare costs, productivity loss, and HPA. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 278 adults. Active workers who reported presenteeism and absenteeism due to cardiovascular diseases had higher direct costs ( P < 0.05) than those who reported other reasons. Those who reported absenteeism spent US $187.33 more on healthcare services annually than those who did not miss work because of health reasons. However, an annual savings of US $53.00 was observed for each increase in the score of HPA. CONCLUSIONS: There was a positive correlation between absenteeism and direct healthcare costs among adults with cardiovascular diseases, and HPA positively affected this relationship.

Resting heart rate is associated with blood pressure in male children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the association between resting heart rate and blood pressure in male children and adolescents and to identify if this association is mediated by important confounders. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study carried out with 356 male children and adolescents from 8 to 18 years old. Resting heart rate was measured by a portable heart rate monitor according to recommendations and stratified into quartiles. Blood pressure was measured with an electronic device previously validated for pediatric populations. Body fatness was estimated by a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Obese subjects had values of resting heart rate 7.8% higher than nonobese (P = .001). Hypertensive children and adolescents also had elevated values of resting heart rate (P = .001). When the sample was stratified in nonobese and obese, the higher quartile of resting heart rate was associated with hypertension in both groups of children and adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the existence of a relationship between elevated resting heart rate and increased blood pressure in a pediatric population, independent of adiposity, ethnicity and age.

The Association Between Leisure-time Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Low Back Pain: A Cross-sectional Analysis in Primary Care Settings.

STUDY DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and low back pain (LBP) in adults from primary care settings, and to explore how sedentary behavior influences this association. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: LTPA is inversely associated with LBP. However, there is no study investigating this association in primary care settings from a middle-income country. Moreover, the influence of sedentary behavior in this association is unknown. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of an ongoing longitudinal study with adults from Bauru, Brazil (n = 557). Data on physical activity, sedentary behavior (sitting time), LBP, body mass index (BMI), and chronic diseases were assessed by face-to-face interviews, physical evaluation, and medical records. Binary logistic regression was used to test the association of LTPA with the presence of LBP. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and health variables were used as covariables in the multivariable models. RESULTS: The fully adjusted model showed that active participants were 33% less likely to have LBP when compared with those insufficiently active (odds ratios [OR]: 0.67 [95% CI: 0.46-0.98]). A significant association was found for active participants who spent less than 3 h/day sitting (OR: 0.45 [95% CI: 0.23-0.89]) but not for those who spent 3 h/day or more in sedentary activities (OR: 0.78 [95% CI: 0.48-1.27]). An inverse association of LTPA with LBP was observed in obese participants (OR = 0.49 [95% CI: 0.25-0.94]), but not in those with normal BMI and overweight. CONCLUSION: LTPA was inversely associated with the prevalence of LBP in adults from primary care. This association was influenced by sedentary behavior and BMI.Level of Evidence: 4.

[Cardiorespiratory fitness and body fat distribution in women with 50 years or more]. / Capacidade cardiorrespiratória e distribuição de gordura corporal de mulheres com 50 anos ou mais.

To verify the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and body fat in women. Evaluations were performed on 229 women with ages ranging between 50 and 84 years. Anthropometric assessment was performed and waist/hip ratio and conicity index values were obtained. The cardiorespiratory fitness was evaluated by the six minutes walk test and one pedometer was used to evaluate the speed, length, and total number of steps. The results were distributed in quartile, and interquartil comparison was performed by means of analysis of variance with post-hoc test. The relationship between the six minutes walk test and anthropometrics was identified using the Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results showed that women with cardiorespiratory fitness in the quartile4 were younger than those in quartile1 (p < or = 0.05). The anthropometric variables values were lower (p < or = 0.05) for results in the quartiles3 and 4 compared to those in quartiles1 and 2. In conclusion, women with higher adipose tissue and central fat accumulation presented lower cardiorespiratory fitness.