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.

Adults Engaged in Sports in Early Life Have Higher Bone Mass Than Their Inactive Peers.

PURPOSE: To analyze the relationship between engagement in sports in early life and bone variables among adults of both sexes. METHODS: The sample was composed of 225 men and women. Demographic data were collected, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and lean soft tissue. Sports participation in early life was assessed by an interview including childhood and adolescence. Consumption of tobacco and alcohol was also assessed by interview and the habitual physical activity level by a pedometer. RESULTS: Inactive men had bone mineral content around 11% lower than active men in childhood or adolescence, whereas for women, this difference represented around 14%. Active men had 74% less fat mass than inactive men in early life, and the difference was 67% for women. Early sports participation explained the differences in whole-body bone mineral content (16.8%, P-value = .005) and bone mineral density (8.8%, P-value = .015), as well as bone mineral density in lower limbs (18.9%, P-value = .001) among women. CONCLUSION: Adults engaged in sports in early life have higher bone mass than their inactive peers, especially women.

Sleep disturbances in adults in a city of Sao Paulo state.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the occurrence of sleep-related disorders among adults from Presidente Prudente, Brazil, as well as to identify associations with behavioral, socio-demographic and nutritional status variables. METHODS: After random selection of the sample, interviews were performed with 743 adults of both genders, living in Presidente Prudente, Brazil. Sleep-related disorders, demographic variables (sex, age, ethnicity and schooling), behavioral variables (leisure physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking) and nutritional status were analyzed by questionnaires. RESULTS: The prevalence of sleep-related disorders was 46.7%, with 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 43.1 - 50.2. In the multivariate analysis, female sex, with odds ratio (OR) 1.74 (95%CI 1.26 - 2.40), schooling (OR = 0.49; 95%CI 0.28 - 0.82), overweight (OR = 1.99; 95%CI 1.39 - 2.85) and obesity (OR = 2.90; 95%CI 1.94 - 4.35) were associated with sleep-related disorders. CONCLUSION: There is high occurrence of sleep-related disorders in this sample, which was associated with female sex, lower schooling, overweight and obesity.