Substantiation of the methodology for assessing the biological age of adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To substantiate the methodology for assessing the biological age of adolescent high schoolers (boys and girls). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: Boys aged 14-15 (n = 102) and girls aged 12-13 (n = 101) were studied. The choice of these age groups is explained by the presence of the most significant individual differences in morphological and functional characteristics in these adolescents. Methods: anthropometry, somatometry, somatoscopy, tonometry, spirometry, dynamometry, Stange's test, Rufier and Robinson indices. The interaction of the results of different methods of assessing biological age was conducted on one sex-age sample using factor analysis (principal components method). RESULTS: Results: It has been established that the biological age of adolescents can be reliably determined using a set of three components: an assessment of the level of physical development, the index of heterochronicity, and the degree of manifestation of secondary sexual characteristics (for boys with a probability of 90.2 %, for girls - 92.1 %). The percentage ratio of these components has sexual peculiarities. Methodologies for assessing biological age for scientific purposes and rapid assessment for use in the practice of physical education and sports have been proposed. The indicators of rapid assessment are body length and the degree of hair development in the axilla. The reliability of the rapid assessment is 81.4 % for boys and 83.2 % for girls. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Developing adequate physical activities for adolescents of different biological ages will help improve the physical health of the younger generation.

PPARGC1A gene polymorphism is associated with exercise-induced fat loss.

Obesity is a widespread problem within modern society, serving to increase the risk of cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative disorders. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and PPARγ coactivator 1 α (PGC1α) play a key role in the regulation of cellular energy metabolism and is implicated in the pathology of these diseases. This study examined the association between polymorphisms of the PPARG and PPARGC1A genes and individual variability in weight loss in response to physical activity intervention. 39 obese Ukrainian women (44.4 ± 7.5 years, BMI > 30.0 kg/m2) undertook a 3-month fitness program whilst following a hypocaloric diet (~ 1500 cal). Anthropometric and biochemical measurements took place before and after the program. Single nucleotide polymorphisms within or near PPARG (n = 94) and PPARGC1A (n = 138) were identified and expression of PPARG mRNA was measured via reverse transcription and amplification. The association between DNA polymorphisms and exercise-induced weight loss, initial body mass, biochemistry and PPARG expression was determined using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The present intervention induced significant fat loss in all participants (total fat: 40.3 ± 5.3 vs 36.4 ± 5.7%; P < 0.00001). Only one polymorphism (rs17650401 C/T) within the PPARGC1A gene was found to be associated with fat loss efficiency after correction for multiple testing, with T allele carriers showing the greatest reduction in body fat percentage (2.5-fold; P = 0.00013) compared to non-carriers. PPARGC1A (rs17650401) is associated with fat loss efficiency of the fitness program in obese women. Further studies are warranted to test whether this variation is associated with fat oxidation.

Opportunities for physical activity within clinical care: positive healthcare effects of exercise interventions delivered via telehealth services with evidence-based fitness resources.

BACKGROUND: This article is an overview of the scientific research on the effectiveness of the original weight management program delivered via telehealth services for middle-aged overweight women - the summary of three original scientific studies that complement each other (N.=55, N.=105, N.=62). METHODS: The manuscript presents theoretical analysis of special scientific and methodological literature, anthropometric and pedagogical methods and methods of mathematical statistics. The physical fitness profile of the middle-aged overweight and obese women was assessed by factor analysis. RESULTS: The pilot feasibility study involving women with an average age of 37.2 years (N.=55) was designed to explore the possibility of remote implementation of primary and ongoing measurement for main anthropometric indicators characterizing excessive body weight. The cross-sectional study involving overweight and obese women (via the Body Mass Index [BMI] from 25.00 to 32.10 kg/m2) with an average age of 38.9 years (N.=105) explored the data with factor analysis and identified the major factors, which determined the structure of physical condition in middle-aged obese women and selected the most informative criteria for designing self-training exercise programs. These criteria were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the original weight management program delivered via telehealth services for middle-aged overweight women in interventional cohort study (N.=62). Participation in the weight management program resulted in significant changes in the morpho-functional status of the women. CONCLUSIONS: This article consisting of three blocks presents the original weight management program whose detailed description and proved effectiveness make this article valuable from a practical point of view for health care professionals who consider telemedicine tools possible for implantation in their practice with obese people.

Global Alliance for the Promotion of Physical Activity: the Hamburg Declaration.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dementia, depression and cancers, are on the rise worldwide and are often associated with a lack of physical activity (PA). Globally, the levels of PA among individuals are below WHO recommendations. A lack of PA can increase morbidity and mortality, worsen the quality of life and increase the economic burden on individuals and society. In response to this trend, numerous organisations came together under one umbrella in Hamburg, Germany, in April 2021 and signed the 'Hamburg Declaration'. This represented an international commitment to take all necessary actions to increase PA and improve the health of individuals to entire communities. Individuals and organisations are working together as the 'Global Alliance for the Promotion of Physical Activity' to drive long-term individual and population-wide behaviour change by collaborating with all stakeholders in the community: active hospitals, physical activity specialists, community services and healthcare providers, all achieving sustainable health goals for their patients/clients. The 'Hamburg Declaration' calls on national and international policymakers to take concrete action to promote daily PA and exercise at a population level and in healthcare settings.