Association of PC Use and TV Viewing Hours with Women’s Recreational Physical Activity and Its Impact on Their Obesity Indices

Background: Television (TV) viewing and computer (PC) use have been associated with poor health outcomes. Aim: To investigate the association of TV viewing and PC use with recreational physical activity energy expenditure (RPAEE), obesity indices, physical activity levels (PAL) and body fat percentage (BF%) of adult women. Methods: Bodyweight (BW), height, waist (WC) and hip (HC) circumferences of 150 adult women were measured. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. The BF% was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The Athens Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess PAL, RPAE, TV viewing and PC hours. Results: The majority of women (53%) were overweight and obese, watched TV for >14 hr/wk (59%), and almost half (47%) of them used computers for >1 hr/day. Slightly more than half of them (54%) had a sedentary lifestyle and reported exercise participation for <2 hr/wk. No walking for leisure was reported by one-third of the subjects, while an alarming low percentage (0.7%) walked only 2.5 hr/wk. No participation in informal physical activity was reported by 69%. RPAEE was estimated at 982 ± 973 kcal/wk and negatively correlated to TV-watching hours (r = –0.31, p < 0.05), computer use (r = –0.3, p < 0.05), BMI (r = –0.44, p < 0.01), BW (r = –0.44, p < 0.01), WC (r = –0.41, p < 0.01), WHR (r = –0.31, p = 0.01). Moreover, RPAEE and BF% were negatively correlated (r = –0.44, p < 0.01). BF% was associated with long hours of PC use and TV watching (R2 = 0.11, F1.148 = 17.94, p = 0.00; R2 = 0.14, F1.148 = 5.4, p = 0.002). Conclusion: Screen use affecting obesity indices seemed to overrun recreational time for physical activity participation and dominate women’s lifestyle. Further research targeting behavioral change practices is recommended. Keywords: obesity, women, physical activity, recreational physical activity expenditure

Optimizing Field Body Fat Percentage Assessment in Professional Soccer Players

Body composition is a determinant of performance in soccer. To estimate the body fat percentage (%BF), dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is effective though this method is expensive and not readily accessible. This study examines the validity of widely used field methods based on anthropometric data and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Participants were 21 male Spanish First Division soccer players aged between 22 and 35 years. In each participant, body fat mass was determined by BIA and using 18 anthropometric equations including skinfold (SKF) measurements. DXA was used as reference. Correlation with DXA measurements was excellent for all equations and separate SKF measurements yet only moderate for BIA. However, only the equation recently developed for use in soccer players based on iliac crest and triceps SKFs showed no significant or standardized differences with DXA-derived %BF and these measurements also had the lowest bias. Our findings suggest that when DXA is not available, the best field method for %BF assessment in footballers is the equation based on iliac crest and triceps SKF. As another good option, we propose the sum of triceps, subscapular, supraspinal, and abdominal SKFs, as this combination also showed good correlation with DXA.

Bioelectrical Impedance Vector and Creatine Phosphokinase Changes Induced by a High-Intensity Training Session in Rink Hockey Players

This study aimed to analyze anthropometric and whole-body/muscle-localized bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) adaptations and their relation to creatine kinase (CK) as a biomarker of muscle damage in a group of seven male players in the maximum category of professional rink hockey. There were three checkpoint assessments in relation to a high-intensity training session: pre-session (PRE), post-session (POST), and 24 h-post-session (POST24H). The resistance, reactance, and impedance module were adjusted by height (R/h, Xc/h, and Z/h, respectively). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the data at baseline and follow-up, while Spearman correlation was used to explore the relationship between CK and the rest of the parameters. The results registered a decrease in body mass at POST (p = 0.03) and a reestablishment at POST24H (p = 0.02). Whole-body BIVA registered a significant increase in R/h between PRE–to–POST (p = 0.02) and returned to baseline values at POST24H (p = 0.02), which was expected since this parameter is related to hydration processes. Muscle-localized BIVA in the rectus femoris muscle showed an increase in both Xc/h and phase angle in POST (p = 0.04 and p = 0.03, respectively) and a decrease in Xc/h at POST24H (p = 0.02). CK correlated with R/h in the rectus femoris at all the checkpoints (PRE–to–POST: r = 0.75, p = 0.05; PRE–to–POST24H: r = 0.81, p = 0.03; POST–to–POST24H: r = 0.82, p = 0.02). Our results indicate that BIVA is a sensitive methodology to assess general and muscle-localized hydration induced by a high-intensity training session in rink hockey players. A correlation between BIVA and CK was also reported.

Neuromuscular Impairment of Knee Stabilizer Muscles in a COVID-19 Cluster of Female Volleyball Players: Which Role for Rehabilitation in the Post-COVID-19 Return-to-Play?

COVID-19 athletes reported persistent and residual symptoms many weeks after initial infection, including cough, fatigue, and neuromuscular disorders. Poor neuromuscular control may cause inefficient movement strategies increasing anterior cruciate ligament load. This is particularly relevant in female athletes, who show a 3-time higher risk than male counterparts. Aim is to evaluate the impairment in thigh muscles activation, body composition, and physical performance after COVID-19 in volleyball athletes. We recruited a cohort of female professional players from the same team. We assessed the pre-activation time of Rectus Femoris (RF), Vastus Medialis (VM), Medial Hamstring (MH), and Lateral Hamstring (LH) before (T0) and after (T1) COVID-19 infection, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and jump tests. We included 12 athletes with COVID-19 infection diagnosis in January 2021. At T1 we found a significant (p < 0.05) delay (ms) of the activation time of RF (426 ± 188 vs. 152 ± 106); VM (363 ± 192 vs. 140 ± 96); BF (229 ± 60 vs. 150 ± 63); MH (231 ± 88 vs. 203 ± 89), and a significant reduction of body composition at BIA. The neuromotor imbalance of the knee stabilizer muscle in female athletes after COVID-19 infection determines a deficit of knee stabilization. Physicians should consider neuromuscular and metabolic sequelae to identify athletes at higher risk of injury and set up specific neuromuscular rehabilitation protocols.

Omentin-1 and diabetic foot

Introduction: Diabetic foot disease is an advanced complication of diabetes mellitus, which is associated with severe invalidization and high mortality rate among affected people. Many factors are involved in its pathogenesis but not all of them are fully elucidated. Objectives: Adipose tissue and its hormones – adipokines, are related to diabetic complications and metabolic disorders. Until now, there are limited data on their role in diabetic foot. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to determine the levels of the adipokine omentin-1 in people with and without diabetic foot disease and to look for its potential involvement in this complication. Methods: Eighty patients with type 2 diabetes and mean age of 60.8±10.5 years were included in this study. They were divided into two groups: with (n=36) and without (n=44) diabetic foot disease. Standard antrometric, clinical and laboratory tests were made. Body composition was analyzed by bioelectrical impedance based device. Serum omentin-1 was measured using ELISA method. Results: Levels of omentin-1 were significantly higher among people with diabetic foot disease (700.2±345.1 ng/ml), compared to the other group (560.2±176.7 ng/ml). This difference remained significant even after adjusting for potential confounders. In a regression model omentin-1 proved its predictive value for development of diabetic foot. Conclusion: Adipokines, and particularly omentin-1, might be included in the pathogenesis of diabetic foot disease.

Health Risks of Sarcopenic Obesity in Overweight Children and Adolescents: Data from the CHILT III Programme (Cologne)

Sarcopenic obesity is increasingly found in youth, but its health consequences remain unclear. Therefore, we studied the prevalence of sarcopenia and its association with cardiometabolic risk factors as well as muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness using data from the German Children’s Health InterventionaL Trial (CHILT III) programme. In addition to anthropometric data and blood pressure, muscle and fat mass were determined with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Sarcopenia was classified via muscle-to-fat ratio. A fasting blood sample was taken, muscular fitness was determined using the standing long jump, and cardiorespiratory fitness was determined using bicycle ergometry. Of the 119 obese participants included in the analysis (47.1% female, mean age 12.2 years), 83 (69.7%) had sarcopenia. Affected individuals had higher gamma-glutamyl transferase, higher glutamate pyruvate transaminase, higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, higher diastolic blood pressure, and lower muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness (each p < 0.05) compared to participants who were ‘only’ obese. No differences were found in other parameters. In our study, sarcopenic obesity was associated with various disorders in children and adolescents. However, the clinical value must be tested with larger samples and reference populations to develop a unique definition and appropriate methods in terms of identification but also related preventive or therapeutic approaches.

Association Between Body Fat Percentage and Level of Physical Activity Among Adolescents in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu

Lack of physical activity among adolescents is one of the factors which lead to the accumulation of body fat and increase prevalence of obesity among Malaysian population. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the association between body fat percentage and physical activity level among adolescents in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu. This cross-sectional study involved 300 participants consists of 44.7% male and 55.3% female aged between 10 to 16 years old. Anthropometric measurements included body weight, height and waist circumference. Body fat percentage (%BF) was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Physical activity was assessed by physical activity questionnaire (PAQ-C) and pedometers in a subsample (n = 50). The result shows that the mean body fat percentage and BMI of the participants were 23.02±9.41% and 20.03±4.77 kg/m2, respectively. Mean PAQ-C score and pedometer steps count for both genders were 1.9±0.42 and 6079±1878, respectively. Male has higher PA level compared to female in their daily life based on PAQ-C score and pedometer steps count. PAQ-C score and pedometer step counts were negatively associated with %BF however there is no significant association between screen time and %BF. As a conclusion, the problems of obesity can be solved by providing strategies to promote active living among adolescents in Malaysia not only focus on increasing physical activity but also emphasise reduction in sedentary behaviours.

Effect of Low Skeletal Muscle Mass and Sarcopenic Obesity on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

The causal relationship between low muscle mass and development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is uncertain in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to investigate the association between low muscle mass or sarcopenic obesity and the risk of incident CKD in patients with T2DM. A total of 3,123 patients with T2DM with preserved renal function were followed up for incident CKD. Skeletal muscle mass was estimated from bioelectrical impedance analysis. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73m2. Sarcopenic obesity was defined as the coexistence of sarcopenia and abdominal obesity. During 8.9 years of follow-up, 530 (17.0%) patients developed incident CKD. When subjects were divided into three groups based on sex-specific tertiles, lower muscle mass was not associated with an increased risk of incident CKD after adjustment for risk factors. However, when patients were divided into four groups according to the presence of sarcopenia and obesity, sarcopenic obesity was associated with an increased risk of incident CKD (adjusted hazard ratio 1.77; 95% confidence interval 1.24-2.51; p=0.001) compared to the other groups. Sarcopenic obesity, but not low muscle mass alone, may increase the risk of CKD in patients with T2DM.