Associations of muscular fitness and body composition in children

Decreased muscle-to-fat mass ratio (MFR) is associated with pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and may reduce muscular fitness. Regular exercise in sports clubs has not led to reductions in obesity in children and adolescents; they may have decreased MFR. Decreased MFR could cause reduced muscular fitness, which may put them at risk for NAFLD development. We investigated whether MFR is related to muscular fitness and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), to determine whether MFR could be used to screen for NAFLD in children and adolescent boys belonging to sports clubs. Altogether, 113 participants (aged 7–17 years) who underwent body composition, laboratory, and muscular fitness measurements during a medical checkup were divided into tertiles according to their MFR. Lower extremity muscular fitness values were significantly decreased in the lowest MFR tertile (p < 0.001); conversely, serum ALT levels were significantly increased (p < 0.01). Decreased MFR significantly increased the risk of elevated ALT, which requires screening for NAFLD, after adjusting for age, obesity, muscular fitness parameters, and metabolic risk factors (odds ratio = 8.53, 95% confidence interval = 1.60–45.6, p = 0.012). Physical fitness and body composition assessments, focusing on MFR, can be useful in improving performance and screening for NAFLD in children and adolescents exercising in sports clubs.

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Muscular fitness, body composition and physical self-perception in adolescents

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport ◽

10.1016/j.jsams.2010.10.003 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 216-221 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

David R. Lubans ◽

Dylan P. Cliff

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Self Perception ◽

Muscular Fitness

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The Relation between Aerobic Fitness, Muscular Fitness, and Obesity in Children from Three Countries at Different Stages of the Physical Activity Transition

ISRN Obesity ◽

10.1155/2013/134835 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

M. Héroux ◽

V. Onywera ◽

M. S. Tremblay ◽

K. B. Adamo ◽

J. Lopez Taylor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Composition ◽

Waist Circumference ◽

Aerobic Fitness ◽

The Body ◽

Muscular Fitness ◽

Mexican Children ◽

Prevalence Of Obesity ◽

Fitness Measures ◽

The Relationship

Background. The physical activity transition is contributing to an increase in childhood obesity and a decrease in fitness worldwide. This study compared body composition and fitness measures in children from three countries and examined intercountry differences in the relationship between these variables. Methods. Participants consisted of 736 Canadian, 193 Mexican, and 179 Kenyan children aged 9–13 years. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, triceps skinfolds, aerobic fitness, and muscular fitness were measured. Linear regression was used to examine associations between variables. Results. The prevalence of obesity was the highest in Mexican children (9.2% boys, 8.4% girls) and the lowest in Kenyan children (0.9% boys, 2.8% girls). Aerobic fitness (VO2max in mL/kg/min) was the highest in Kenyan children (50.2 boys, 46.7 girls) and the lowest in Canadian children (41.3 boys, 38.3 girls). Aerobic fitness was negatively associated with body composition measures irrespective of country and sex. Mexican children with low aerobic fitness had higher body composition measures than Canadian and Kenyan children. Muscular fitness was not associated with the body composition measures in Kenyan children but was a weak positive correlate of BMI and waist circumference in Canadian and Mexican children. Conclusion. The current study provides some evidence to support the physical activity transition hypothesis.

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Associations of Body Composition and Physical Activity with Balance and Walking Ability in the Elderly

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2.3.298 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 298-306 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Maija Hassinen ◽

Pirjo Komulainen ◽

Timo A. Lakka ◽

Sari B. Väisänen ◽

Rainer Rauramaa

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Composition ◽

Waist Circumference ◽

Grip Strength ◽

Field Tests ◽

The Elderly ◽

Hand Grip Strength ◽

Walking Ability ◽

Muscular Fitness ◽

Hand Grip

Background:The epidemic of sedentary lifestyle and obesity increases the risk of disability with aging. We studied the relationships of body composition, physical activity, and muscular fitness with balance and walking ability.Methods:Men and women, age 70 to 74 y (n = 146), were randomly selected from the Finnish population register. Body composition [body weight, body-mass index (BMI), waist circumference], physical activity (questionnaire), muscular fitness (hand-grip strength), balance (commonly used field tests), and walking ability (20 m walking test) were assessed.Results:BMI (r = –0.287, P < 0.001), waist circumference (r = –0.260, P = 0.002), physical activity (r = 0.206, P = 0.013), and hand-grip strength (r = 0.244, P = 0.003) correlated with balance. BMI (r = 0.330, P < 0.001), waist circumference (r = 0.237, P = 0.004), physical activity (r = –0.252, P = 0.002), and hand-grip strength (r = –0.307, P < 0.001) also correlated with walking time.Conclusions:Overweight and central obesity as well as low muscular fitness associate with impaired balance and walking ability in the elderly.

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Differential Effects of Resistance- and Endurance-Based Exercise Programs on Muscular Fitness, Body Composition, and Cardiovascular Variables in Young Adult Women: Contextualizing the Efficacy of Self-Selected Exercise Modalities

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina57070654 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 57 (7) ◽

pp. 654

Author(s):

Sime Versic ◽

Kemal Idrizovic ◽

Gentiana Beqa Ahmeti ◽

Damir Sekulic ◽

Matej Majeric

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Body Composition ◽

Lean Body Mass ◽

Body Mass ◽

Body Fat ◽

Young Women ◽

Resting Heart Rate ◽

Muscular Fitness ◽

Body Strength ◽

Apparently Healthy

There is an evident lack of research simultaneously investigating endurance training (ET) and resistance training (RT) with regard to their potential influence on fitness and health status in young women. This study aimed to determine the effects of RT and ET three times a week over an eight-week period on anthropometric/body composition indices, blood pressure (BP), and muscular fitness in apparently healthy young women who participated in a self-preferred program. The sample of participants comprised 57 young healthy women (23.9 ± 3.08 years, 165.5 ± 5.8 cm, 66.8 ± 7.2 kg) divided into ET (n = 18), RT (n = 19), and non-exercising (C) (n = 20) groups. The variables consisted of anthropometric/body composition indices (body mass, BMI, body fat, and lean body mass), muscular fitness variables (lower body strength, upper body strength, abdominal strength, dynamometric force, and flexibility), and cardiovascular parameters (resting heart rate and systolic and diastolic BP). A pre- and post-testing design, with factorial analysis of variance for repeated measurements (ANOVA: Group × Measurement), including a consecutive post hoc test, was applied. The ANOVA indicated a similar improvement in body composition (increase in lean body mass and decrease in body fat percentage), resting heart rate, and flexibility in both of the exercise groups, with no significant changes in the C group. RT improved the participants’ strength and force capacities to a greater extent than ET. BP showed a trend of improvement in both of the training groups, but without statistically significant pre- to post-changes. Correlation analysis calculated with variables of pre- to post-differences (VDs) indicated poor associations between VDs, indicating relative independence of the obtained effects for the different variables in each training group. Although this investigation comprised apparently healthy young women, numerous positive changes indicated the efficacy of both programs in a relatively short period of time. While the participants in this study self-selected training programs, the evidenced positive effects can be at least partially related to this fact.

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Handgrip Strength and Its Relationship with White Blood Cell Count in U.S. Adolescents

Biology ◽

10.3390/biology10090884 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 884

Author(s):

José Francisco López-Gil ◽

Robinson Ramírez-Vélez ◽

Mikel Izquierdo ◽

Antonio García-Hermoso

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Immune System ◽

Handgrip Strength ◽

Final Analysis ◽

Inverse Association ◽

Muscular Fitness ◽

Public Health Perspective ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Wbc Count ◽

The Relationship

Background: The role of muscular fitness (as a protecting factor for an optimal immune system) and WBC count remains unclear. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the relationship between the total count of WBC and groups based on handgrip strength and body composition. The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between handgrip strength and WBC count in a nationally representative sample of adolescents from the U.S. Methods: We used data from the NHANES cross-sectional study (waves 2011 to 2014). The final analysis included 917 adolescents from 12–17 years old (51.0% boys). Normalized handgrip strength (kg) (NHS) was relativized by body composition parameters (body weight [NHSw], total body fat [NHSf], and trunk fat [NHSt]) assessed with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: An inverse association was found between total WBC count and all assessments of low NHS in both sexes (p < 0.05). Both boys and girls with low NHS had higher WBC counts in all estimations of NHS than those with high NHS (p < 0.05 for all). All estimations of low NHS showed significant differences with those with intermediate NHS (only in girls) (p < 0.05 for all). Girls with intermediate NHSt exhibited higher WBC count than those with high NHSt (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that greater levels of NHS are linked to lower total WBC counts. From a public health perspective, our findings are clinically significant and emphasize the relevance of improving muscular fitness during adolescence since it may contribute to boosting the immune system among adolescents.

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Body composition and muscular fitness in overweight and obese adolescents: Evasyon Study

Revista Andaluza de Medicina del Deporte ◽

10.1016/j.ramd.2014.10.021 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 28

Author(s):

P. De Miguel-Etayo ◽

J. Santabárbara ◽

L.A. Moreno ◽

M. Martín-Matillas ◽

A. Marti del Moral ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Muscular Fitness ◽

Obese Adolescents

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Resistance Exercise in Men Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2003.09.534 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 21 (9) ◽

pp. 1653-1659 ◽

Cited By ~ 517

Author(s):

Roanne J. Segal ◽

Robert D. Reid ◽

Kerry S. Courneya ◽

Shawn C. Malone ◽

Matthew B. Parliament ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Prostate Cancer ◽

Body Composition ◽

Resistance Exercise ◽

Androgen Deprivation Therapy ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Androgen Deprivation ◽

Control Group ◽

Muscular Fitness

Purpose: Androgen deprivation therapy is a common treatment in men with prostate cancer that may cause fatigue, functional decline, increased body fatness, and loss of lean body tissue. These physical changes can negatively affect health-related quality of life. Resistance exercise may help to counter some of these side effects by reducing fatigue, elevating mood, building muscle mass, and reducing body fat. Methods: In a two-site study, 155 men with prostate cancer who were scheduled to receive androgen deprivation therapy for at least 3 months after recruitment were randomly assigned to an intervention group that participated in a resistance exercise program three times per week for 12 weeks (82 men) or to a waiting list control group (73 men). The primary outcomes were fatigue and disease-specific quality of life as assessed by self-reported questionnaires after 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes were muscular fitness and body composition. Results: Men assigned to resistance exercise had less interference from fatigue on activities of daily living (P = .002) and higher quality of life (P = .001) than men in the control group. Men in the intervention group demonstrated higher levels of upper body (P = .009) and lower body (P < .001) muscular fitness than men in the control group. The 12-week resistance exercise intervention did not improve body composition as measured by changes in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, or subcutaneous skinfolds. Conclusion: Resistance exercise reduces fatigue and improves quality of life and muscular fitness in men with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy. This form of exercise can be an important component of supportive care for these patients.

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Observations of Performance and Body Composition Following 8-weeks of Progressive Resistance Training in Participants With Cerebral Palsy

Internal Journal of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation ◽

10.28933/ijsmr-2021-04-2605 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 21

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Resistance Training ◽

Strength Training ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Training Data ◽

Progressive Resistance Training ◽

Muscular Fitness ◽

Peak Aerobic Capacity ◽

Progressive Resistance

Purpose: To observe the effects of progressive resistance training on performance and body composition in participants with cerebral palsy. Methods: Four quadriplegic (3 male, 1 female) and two hemiplegic (2 female) participants (22 ± 5 yr, mean ± SD) completed moderate to high intensity resistance training 2-3 days a week for 8-weeks. Strength training programs were developed for each participant based on their physical ability. Measurements of exercise performance and body composition (InBody 270 & S10) were collected prior to and following training. Data from all participants was pooled, and samples with 5-6 subjects were analyzed using a paired t-test with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Measurements of muscular fitness improved, including plank performance (pre: 64 ± 40, post: 95 ± 61 s, n = 6), supine sled leg press 1RM (pre: 225 ± 69, post: 378 ± 124 lb, n = 6) and bench/sled press 1RM (pre: 92 ± 54, post: 115 ± 58 lb, n = 5). There was no change in peak sprint capacity (pre: 89 ± 32, post: 96 ± 29 W, n = 5) or peak aerobic capacity (pre: 303 ± 136, post: 370 ± 246 s, n = 4). Measurements of body weight (pre: 151 ± 40, post: 151 ± 42 lb, n = 6) and skeletal muscle mass (pre: 53 ± 8, post: 54 ± 9 lb, n = 6) were unchanged following training. Conclusion: Preliminary data is encouraging that the unique and challenging strength training program employed with these participants can be utilized to gain meaningful improvements in muscular fitness. However, a larger sample size and longer training period may be necessary to significantly increase muscle mass.

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