Overweight, obesity, physical activity, cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in a Portuguese sample of high school adolescents

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

ferreira, fs (Author) Other; duarte, jar (Author) FADEUP

Journal

Title: Minerva Pediatrica

Vol. 65

Pages: 83-91

ISSN: 0026-4946

Publisher: EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 7 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-0M0

Abstract (EN): Aim. The aim of this paper was to describe overweight, obesity, physical activity, cardirespiratory and muscular fitness levels in school adolescents, aged between 12 to 17 years. Methods. Cross-sectional study that took place in Castelo Branco district, Portugal. Height, weight, body mass index, waist circumference and percentage of fat mass by bioelectric impedance were measured. Physical activity was assessed by the Adapted Version to Portuguese Population of Weekly Activity Checklist (AVPPWAC); 20-metre shuttle run test (SRT) was performed to determine cardiorespiratory fitness level. Muscular fitness was determined with curl-ups, back-arch and push-ups. 924 adolescents were analyzed. Results. According to BMI International Obesity Task Force reference values, male's overweight values showed a prevalence of 23.5% and 21.4% for females. For obesity values, males showed a prevalence of 5.4% and 3.4% for females. According to WC reference values, male's overweight values showed a prevalence of 67.4% and 74.3% for females. For obesity values, males showed a prevalence of 30.1% and 36.2% for females. According to %FM reference values, male's overweight values showed a prevalence of 13.8% and 20.2% for females. For obesity values, males showed a prevalence of 4.4% and 28.4% for females. The percentage of subjects with low PA level or below of the P25 was 25.9% for males and 26.3% for females. According to body mass status group, the PA decreases as adiposity increases. Males and females exhibited very low cardiorespiratory fitness based on SRT (males mean =47.65 +/- 22.75 rounds) and muscular fitness based on push-ups (males mean =14.66 +/- 10.36 repetitions; females mean =8.11 +/- 7.22 repetitions); curl-ups (males mean =41.35 +/- 23.76 repetitions; females mean =33.87 +/- 21.78 repetitions); and back arch (males mean =26.24 +/- 5.02 cm; females mean =26.37 +/- 5.28 cm) exhibited good values in accordance to the optimal zone for muscular fitness. Conclusion. There is a high prevalence of overweight and central adiposity in this population, with low physical activity and fitness levels. This profile may result in adverse health outcomes.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9