Birth Weight was Favorably Associated With Physical Fitness in Childhood After Adjustment for Several Perinatal Factors

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Konstantinos D. Tambalis ◽  
Stamatis Mourtakos ◽  
Labros S. Sidossis
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Infant Growth ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Perinatal Factors ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength

Background: The purpose was to examine the potential associations of birth weight and infant growth with physical fitness (PF) components in childhood. Method: A random sample of 5125 dyads of children aged 8–9 years and their mothers were evaluated. Telephone interviews were carried out with the use of a standardized questionnaire for the collection of maternal lifestyle factors. Mothers were asked to provide information contained in their medical booklets and pregnancy ultrasound records. Data from 5 PF tests were used to assess cardiorespiratory fitness, speed, and body strength. Linear regression analysis was applied to assess the associations between birth weight and infant growth with PF test performances and logistic regression analysis to evaluate the associations of normal weight versus low birth weight and normal versus accelerated infant growth with PF tests performance categories (low vs high/average). Results: Birth weight was favorably associated with cardiorespiratory fitness (b = 0.12 stage increase per SD increase in birth weight, P = .047), lower body strength (b = 1.07, P = .037), upper body strength (b = 0.10, P = .038), and speed (b = −0.04, P = .001), and infant growth was associated with upper body strength (b = 0.21 cm increase per SD increase in infant weight gain, P < .001) after adjusting for children’s body mass index and several perinatal factors. Low birth weight children had 35% increased odds for low performances in PF tests compared with their normal birth weight counterparts. Conclusion: Low birth weight negatively affects childhood PF, and hence, it could play an unfavorable role in the future health of the offspring.

Associations of Maternal Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Gestational Weight Gain With Physical Fitness in Childhood

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-171
Author(s):  
Konstantinos D. Tambalis ◽  
Stamatis Mourtakos ◽  
Labros S. Sidossis
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Lower Body ◽  
Gestational Weight ◽  
Prepregnancy Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Fitness Tests ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
Lower Body Strength

Purpose: To investigate the potential associations of maternal prepregnancy body mass index (mppBMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) with physical fitness in children. Methods: A random sample of 5125 children and their mothers was evaluated. The mothers provided data contained in their medical booklets and pregnancy ultrasound records. The data from 5 physical fitness tests (eg, 20-m shuttle run, 30-m sprint, vertical jump, standing long jump, and small ball throw) were used to assess children’s cardiorespiratory fitness, speed, explosive power, and lower and upper body strength, respectively. Results: MppBMI was inversely associated with cardiorespiratory fitness (b = −0.02), lower body strength (b = −1.01), upper body strength (b = −0.07), and speed (b = 0.04). Also, GWG was unfavorably associated with cardiorespiratory fitness (b = −0.02), lower body strength (b = −1.12), upper body strength (b = −0.03), and speed (b = 0.03), after adjusting for sex, birth weight, and children’s BMI (all P values < .05). Children of mothers with an mppBMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 and excess GWG had almost 30% and 20% increased odds for low performances in physical fitness tests than those of mothers with an mppBMI < 25 kg/m2 and adequate GWG, respectively. Conclusions: Antenatal factors such as increased mppBMI and excess GWG could play an unfavorable role in the future health of the offspring.

scholarly journals Secular trends in health-related physical fitness among 11–14-year-old Croatian children and adolescents from 1999 to 2014

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Kasović ◽  
Lovro Štefan ◽  
Vilko Petrić
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Lower Body ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
Lower Body Power

AbstractThe main purpose of the study was to analyze secular trends of health-related physical fitness in 7–14-year-old Croatian children and adolescents from 1999 and 2014. In this observational cross-sectional study, we recruited 5077 children and adolescents between ages 11 and 14 (50.8% girls) from five primary schools located in the capital city of Zagreb. Physical fitness performance was tested from 1999 until 2014. Physical fitness performance included: (1) body-mass index (measure of body size), (2) standing broad jump (measure of lower-body power), (3) polygon backwards (measure of general coordination and agility), (4) sit-ups in 60 s (measure of upper-body strength), (5) sit-and-reach test (measure of flexibility) and (6) 6-min run test (measure of cardiorespiratory fitness). Boys performed better in all physical fitness tests, except for sit-and-reach test (p < 0.001). In boys, between 1999 and 2014, body size, upper-body strength and coordination/agility increased, while flexibility, lower-body power and cardiorespiratory fitness decreased. During the same period, girls experienced an increase in body size, lower-body power, upper-body strength, coordination/agility and flexibility, while cardiorespiratory fitness decreased. This study shows that cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility and coordination/agility decrease, while upper-body strength increases in both sexes. These findings should serve as an avenue for national monitoring system to screen and track biological development in children and adolescents.

Muscular and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Homeschool versus Public School Children

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura S. Kabiri ◽  
Katy Mitchell ◽  
Wayne Brewer ◽  
Alexis Ortiz
Keyword(s):  
Public School ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
School Children ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Muscular Fitness ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Type Method ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
And Gender

Purpose:The growth and unregulated structure of homeschooling creates an unknown population in regard to muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness. The purpose of this research was to compare muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness between elementary school aged homeschool and public school children.Method:Homeschool children ages 8–11 years old (n = 75) completed the curl-up, 90° push-up, and Progressive Aerobic Capacity Endurance Run (PACER) portions of the FitnessGram to assess abdominal and upper body strength and endurance as well as cardiorespiratory fitness. Comparisons to public school children (n = 75) were made using t tests and chi-square tests.Results:Homeschool children showed significantly lower abdominal (t(148) = -11.441, p < .001; χ2 (1) = 35.503, p < .001) and upper body (t(148) = -3.610, p < .001; χ2 (1) = 4.881, p = .027) strength and endurance. There were no significant differences in cardiorespiratory fitness by total PACER laps (t(108) = 0.879, p = .381) or estimated VO2max (t(70) = 1.187, p = .239; χ2 (1) = 1.444, p = .486).Conclusion:Homeschool children showed significantly lower levels of both abdominal and upper body muscular fitness compared with their age and gender matched public school peers but no difference in cardiorespiratory fitness.

scholarly journals Field-Based Health-Related Physical Fitness Tests in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adilson Marques ◽  
Duarte Henriques-Neto ◽  
Miguel Peralta ◽  
João Martins ◽  
Fernando Gomes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
School Settings ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Upper Body Strength

Physical fitness (PF) is a multi-component construct and a biomarker of health. Worse PF is related to vulnerability and predicts worse academic achievements. Thus, assessing PF is important to monitor health in youth. This systematic review aimed to identify and inform physical education, health professionals and entities about existing PF batteries and field-tests that can be used in school settings. A comprehensive literature search was carried out in five electronic databases (Academic Search Complete, Education Resources Information Center, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) to identify PF battery protocols that can be carried out in the school setting. Overall, 24 PF batteries were identified. Regarding the PF components assessed, only cardiorespiratory fitness and upper body strength were contemplated in all batteries. Middle-body strength and lower body strength were presented in most batteries (21 and 19 of 24, respectively). Agility (16 of 24) and body composition (16 of 24) were also considered in several batteries, although to a lesser extent. Flexibility (14 of 24) and speed (12 of 24) were the PF components less represented in the batteries. Among the 24 identified PF batteries, 81 PF tests assessing the different PF components were encountered. The advances in the PF field-based assessment in school settings and health in youth resulted in the amplification of the number of existing batteries. Considering the connection between PF and health and the opportunity that the school setting provides to assess fitness in children and adolescents, there is a need for standardization and a consensus of PF assessments in this specific setting.

Activity Behaviors and Physiological Characteristics of Women With Advanced-Stage Ovarian Cancer: A Preliminary Cross-sectional Investigation

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 604-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christelle Schofield ◽  
Robert U. Newton ◽  
Paul A. Cohen ◽  
Daniel A. Galvão ◽  
Joanne A. McVeigh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Advanced Stage ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
Sedentary Bouts ◽  
Muscle Cross Sectional Area

ObjectivesOvarian cancer (OC) survivors experience many disease and treatment adverse effects. However, the impact of OC and its treatment on objective activity behaviors and physiological status have not been examined. The purpose of this study was to compare objectively measured activity behaviors and physiological characteristics of advanced-stage OC survivors to age-matched controls.MethodsTwenty stage III–IV OC survivors and 20 controls completed assessments of activity behaviors (7-day accelerometry), physical function (400-meter walk as indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness, repeated chair rise, 6-meter walking tests), muscle strength (1-repetition maximum and handgrip), body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), and musculoskeletal morphology (peripheral quantitative computed tomography).ResultsCompared with controls, OC survivors spent more time/day in prolonged sedentary bouts (P = 0.039, r = 0.32), had lower cardiorespiratory fitness (P = 0.041, r = 0.33) and upper body strength (P = 0.023, r = 0.37), had higher areal bone mineral content (P = 0.047, r = 0.33) and volumetric trabecular density (P = 0.048, r = 0.31), but were not different in other measures of body composition nor in muscle morphology (P > 0.050). Only 20% (n = 4) of OC survivors accrued 150 minutes/week or greater moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) time in 10-minute bouts or greater. Moderate and vigorous physical activity time/day in 10-minute bouts or greater was strongly associated with cardiorespiratory fitness (P = 0.001, ρ = −0.702) and lower extremity function (P = 0.019, ρ = −0.519) and moderately associated with muscle cross-sectional area (P = 0.035, ρ = 0.473).ConclusionsPosttreatment OC survivors spent more time in prolonged sedentary bouts and had lower cardiorespiratory fitness and upper body strength compared with controls. Moderate and vigorous physical activity was associated with physical function and muscle cross-sectional area. Future studies should test the efficacy of exercise interventions to increase MVPA, reduce sedentary behavior, and increase cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength in OC survivors.

Use of Reinforcement to Increase Independence in Physical Fitness Performance of Profoundly Mentally Retarded Youth

1992 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 975-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet L. Rogers-Wallgren ◽  
Ron French ◽  
Vic Ben-Ezra
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Mentally Retarded ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Single Subject ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Verbal Praise ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
The Difference

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of verbal praise and verbal praise plus music or vibratory reinforcement on the level of independent performance on abdominal strength and endurance, lower back and hip flexibility, and upper body strength/endurance exercises of 12 profoundly mentally retarded, ambulatory youth, ages 10 to 18 years. A single-subject AB design with a control group was used to assess the difference in performance of physical fitness under the baseline condition of no reinforcement and under the two experimental conditions of verbal praise and verbal praise plus music or vibratory reinforcement. In contrast to previous results reported in the literature, verbal praise and verbal praise plus music or vibratory reinforcement were not effective in increasing the level of independence in performing selected physical fitness tasks.

scholarly journals A Comparative Analysis of the Fitness of Collegiate Dancers as compared to Collegiate Volleyball and Softball Players

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leanna Miller ◽  
Fred Miller III
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Fitness Components ◽  
Physical Demands ◽  
Training Adaptations ◽  
Leg Strength ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
Comprehensive Comparison ◽  
Dance Medicine

Few studies directly compare the various fitness components of collegiate dancers and athletes in acknowledged sports. The limited studies that do exist fail to consider certain variables or to assess multiple fitness components. The purpose of this study was to provide a more comprehensive comparison of collegiate dancers and collegiate volleyball and softball players. We used multiple fitness components as an indicator of the comparative physical demands of these activities, to assess whether the physical demands of collegiate dance may warrant a comparable level of medical support as afforded to the volleyball and softball players. Thirty dancers and thirty volleyball and softball players were tested using six different measurements of physical fitness commonly used in athletic assessments at universities. A two-tailed independent t-test was performed to determine differences between dancers and athletes in each fitness component. Three tests revealed significant differences between the groups, with the dancers having a lower percent body fat and greater flexibility, and the athletes having greater relative upper body strength. No significant differences were found in relative leg strength, core strength, or estimated VO2max. The results of the current study suggest that dance provides training adaptations equivalent to traditional intermittent sports and thus support the use of similar levels of medical care for collegiate dancers to that afforded to collegiate volleyball and softball players. KEYWORDS: Physical Fitness; Dance; Dance Medicine; Athletics; Dance Health Benefits

scholarly journals Using Anthropometric Data and Physical Fitness Scores to Predict Selection in a National U19 Rugby Union Team

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1499
Author(s):  
Luis Vaz ◽  
Wilbur Kraak ◽  
Marco Batista ◽  
Samuel Honório ◽  
Hélder Miguel Fernandes
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
National Team ◽  
Assessment Tests ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Run Test

The purpose of this study was to compare measures of anthropometry characteristics and physical fitness performance between rugby union players (17.9 ± 0.5 years old) recruited (n = 39) and non-recruited (n = 145) to the Portuguese under-19 (U19) national team, controlling for their playing position (forwards or backs). Standardized anthropometric, physical, and performance assessment tests included players’ body mass and height, push up and pull-up test, squat test, sit-and-reach test, 20 m shuttle run test, flexed arm hang test, Sargent test, handgrip strength test, Illinois agility test, and 20-m and 50-m sprint test. Results showed that recruited forwards players had better agility scores (p = 0.02, ES = −0.55) than the non-recruited forwards, whereas recruited backs players had higher right (p < 0.01, ES = 0.84) and left (p = 0.01, ES = 0.74) handgrip strength scores than their counterparts. Logistic regression showed that better agility (for the forwards) and right handgrip strength scores (for the backs) were the only variables significantly associated with an increased likelihood of being recruited to the national team. In sum, these findings suggest that certain well-developed physical qualities, namely, agility for the forwards players and upper-body strength for the back players, partially explain the selection of U19 rugby players to their national team.

scholarly journals Smoking during pregnancy was negatively associated with physical fitness in childhood

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-134
Author(s):  
Konstantinos D. Tambalis ◽  
Stamatis Mourtakos ◽  
Demosthenes D. Panagiotakos ◽  
Labros S. Sidossis
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Mode Of Delivery ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Smoking During Pregnancy ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Prenatal Factors ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Potential Association ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
Relationship Of

Background: To explore the potential relationship of several prenatal predictors with physical fitness (PF) components among children. Material and Methods: Α random sample of 5,125 dyads children (8 to 9 years old) and their mothers was evaluated. Mothers were asked to provide information contained in their medical booklets and pregnancy ultrasound records. With the use of a standardized questionnaire, telephone interviews were carried out for the collection of maternal factors in order to assess the potential association between several prenatal factors (preterm birth, maternal age, parity before, mode of delivery, gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, alcohol consumption and smoking during pregnancy) and child’s PF. Data from five PF tests were used to assess cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), speed, and lower and upper body strength. Results: Children born to mothers with adequate physical activity (PA) levels during pregnancy, parity before and higher education presented higher performances in PF components (all p-values<0.05) in childhood. Also, mother’s smoking during pregnancy was unfavorably associated with CRF (b=-0.04), lower body strength (b=-0.02), upper body strength (b=-0.02), and speed (b=0.10), after adjusting for several covariates. Conclusion: Among prenatal factors considered, parity before, educational level and PA and smoking during pregnancy had an important influence on PF in childhood.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document