To examine clustering of lifestyle behaviors in Spanish children and adolescents based on screen time, nonscreen sedentary time, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, Mediterranean diet quality, ...and sleep time, and to analyze its association with health-related physical fitness.
The sample consisted of 1197 children and adolescents (597 boys), aged 8-18 years, included in the baseline cohort of the UP&DOWN study. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was assessed by accelerometry. Screen time, nonscreen sedentary time, Mediterranean diet quality, and sleep time were self-reported by participants. Health-related physical fitness was measured following the Assessing Levels of Physical Activity battery for youth. A 2-stage cluster analysis was performed based on the 5 lifestyle behaviors. Associations of clusters with fatness and physical fitness were analyzed by 1-way ANCOVA.
Five lifestyle clusters were identified: (1) active (n = 171), (2) sedentary nonscreen sedentary time-high diet quality (n = 250), (3) inactive-high sleep time (n = 249 20.8%), (4) sedentary nonscreen sedentary time-low diet quality (n = 273), and (5) sedentary screen time-low sleep time (n = 254). Cluster 1 was the healthiest profile in relation to health-related physical fitness in both boys and girls. In boys, cluster 3 had the worst fatness and fitness levels, whereas in girls the worst scores were found in clusters 4 and 5.
Clustering of different lifestyle behaviors was identified and differences in health-related physical fitness were found among clusters, which suggests that special attention should be given to sedentary behaviors in girls and physical activity in boys when developing childhood health prevention strategies focusing on lifestyles patterns.
Background
The aim of this study was to examine the bidirectional longitudinal associations of several markers of fatness and physical fitness in adolescents with Down syndrome.
Methods
This study ...comprised a total of 111 adolescents (41 females), aged from 11 to 20 years with complete data at the baseline. We had a drop‐out of <10% from the baseline to the 2‐year follow‐up. The ALPHA health‐related fitness test battery for youth was used.
Results
Our results show that all fatness variables at the baseline were associated with a 2‐year change in cardiorespiratory fitness (β ranging from −0.32 to −0.38; all p < .05), but not with muscular and motor fitness (p > .05). However, no associations were found between physical fitness components as predictors and fatness indicators (p > .05).
Conclusions
Results suggest that reducing fatness during adolescence might represent a modifiable factor to improve cardiorespiratory fitness at the 2‐year follow‐up, but not vice versa since associations were not bidirectional.
The aims of this study were (i) to examine the sedentary time (ST) during different time periods i.e., weekend, out-of-school weekdays hours, school hours, recess, physical education classes (PEC) in ...children and adolescents; (ii) to identify 2-year longitudinal changes in the ST for these periods; and (iii) to examine if ST at baseline is associated with ST 2 years later. This was a 2-year follow-up study with 826 (51.9% boys) children and 678 (50.7% boys) adolescents. Accelerometers were used to assess ST. Students spent more than 60% of their weekend, out-of-school hours and school hours in ST. During these periods, girls and adolescents were more sedentary than boys and children, respectively (p < 0.05). Over 2-year follow-up, ST increased during the weekend, out-of-school hours, school hours and recess in all subgroups studied (p < 0.001). ST during PEC declined 2% per year in children (p < 0.001) but it increased in adolescents (p < 0.05). ST during the periods analysed at baseline was lowly associated with ST during these periods 2 years later (intraclass correlations from <0.001 to 0.364). Interventions in these settings may be adequate if the intention is to avoid ST increase in students.
We aimed to analyse the longitudinal association between physical fitness (PF) and body composition (BC) with a metabolic risk score (Met4) in children and adolescents and to elucidate whether the ...association between PF and Met4 differs when using relativized or absolute fitness variables. A total of 188 children (86 females) and 195 adolescents (97 females) were included. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was determined by the 20-m shuttle run test, and muscular fitness (MF) was determined by hand grip and standing long jump tests. Height and weight were measured, and the body mass index (Kg/m
2
) was calculated. Triceps and subscapular skinfolds were assessed to compute body fat percentage. Met4 was computed from systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glucose levels. Relative CRF was longitudinally and negatively associated with Met4 in female children (
β
= −0.031,
p
= 0.025), while absolute CRF was positively associated with Met4 in male children and adolescents (
β
= 0.000,
p
< 0.05). Relative upper and lower-body MF were longitudinally and negatively associated with Met4 in female adolescents (
β
= −1.347, β = −0.005,
p
< 0.05), while absolute lower-body MF was positively associated with Met4 in male children (
β
= 0.000,
p
= 0.019). BC was longitudinally and positively associated with Met4 in male children (β-ranging from 0.011 to 0.055, all
p
< 0.05) and male adolescents (β-ranging from 0.011 to 0.046, all p < 0.05).
Conclusion
: BC is more strongly associated with Met4 than PF in children and adolescents. An optimal body weight status should be considered the main objective of health-promoting programs at childhood and adolescence. Furthermore, the way of expressing the fitness variables determines the direction of the association with Met4.
What is Known:
• Physical fitness is an important health indicator in children and adolescents, with great amount of previous evidence supporting the preventive role of maintaining optimal levels of both cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness for future cardiometabolic issues.
What is New:
• The way of reporting physical fitness variables can affect the associations between physical fitness features and cardiometabolic outcomes. Since body composition variables have a great impact on both physical fitness and cardiometabolic health, relativizing physical fitness performance by body composition could lead to erroneous conclusions.
Abstract Supporting positive change in lifestyle behaviours is a priority in tackling the health inequalities experienced by adults with intellectual disabilities. In this systematic review, we ...examine the evidence on the definition, measurement and epidemiology of sedentary behaviour of adults with intellectual disabilities. A systematic literature search of PUBMED, EMBASE, MEDLINE and Google Scholar was performed to identify studies published from 1990 up to October 2015. Nineteen papers met the criteria for inclusion in the systematic review. Many researchers do not distinguish between insufficient physical activity and sedentary behaviour. None of the studies reported the reliability and validity of the methods used to measure sedentary behaviour.
Sedentary time, assessed objectively, ranged from 522 to 643 min
/day
: higher than in adults without intellectual disabilities. This first-ever review of sedentary behaviour and intellectual disabilities found that at present the evidence base is weak. Studies calibrating accelerometer data with criterion measures for sedentary behaviour are needed to determine specific cut-off points to measure sedentary behaviour in adults with intellectual disabilities. Researchers should also examine the reliability and validity of using proxy-report questionnaires to measure sedentary behaviour in this group. A better understanding of sedentary behaviour will inform the design of novel interventions to change lifestyle behaviours of adults with intellectual disabilities.
The aim of this study is to compare the levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviours in children with obesity and normal weight through accelerometer measures, and analyze the family ...environment related to physical activity.
Case-control study.
A health center and colleges of the Community of Madrid.
A total of 50 obese children between 8 and 12 years of age (P > 97) and their mothers were matched by age, sex and socioeconomic status of their parents (1: 1) with 50 children with normopeso (GN; P < 85).
Physical activity levels were measured by accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X), levels of physical activity of the primary caregiver were measured through physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) and the environment in relation to the physical activity was measured by the Home Environment Scale (HES-S).
The group GO showed less vigorous physical activity than their peers in the GN group. Vigorous physical activity in the GO group was associated with modeling and parental policies regarding physical activity. A multiple regression analysis revealed that 21% of the variance of weight status of children was explained by sex, vigorous physical activity and maternal body mass index.
The levels of vigorous physical activity and the family environment differ between children with obesity and normal weight. Therefore, it is important to continue working on the awareness of illness and the promotion of healthy habits from Primary Care and the school and institutional context.
•We described sedentariness and physical activity in adolescents with Down syndrome.•There were no differences in time spent in both behaviours throughout the week.•Males are more active than females ...during weekend days.•Sedentary time increases and PA decreases with advancing age.•It is important to decrease sedentariness and increase PA in this population.
This study aimed to examine the patterns of sedentary time and physical activity (PA) throughout the week in adolescents with Down syndrome (DS). The study comprised 109 adolescents with DS (68 males and 41 females) aged 11–20 years, participating in the UP&DOWN study, but only a total of 100 adolescents provided valid data. Sedentary time and total, light, moderate, vigorous, and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) were measured by accelerometers. There were no significant differences in the time spent in sedentary time and PA levels between weekdays vs. weekend days, as well as between school time vs. after school-time periods (all p>0.05). Adolescent males engaged in more total PA, moderate PA, vigorous PA and MVPA than females on weekend days (all p<0.05). Differences between age groups showed that sedentary time increases and PA decreases with advancing age in all analyses, so that the oldest groups were more sedentary and less active (all p<0.05). Only 43% of adolescents with DS met the PA recommendations of ≥60min/day of MVPA. Our findings show valuable information to be considered in future interventions aiming to decrease sedentary time and increase PA levels in adolescents with DS.
•We examine the association of PA with fatness and fitness in adolescents with DS.•Levels of PA are not associated with markers of fatness.•Engagement in particularly vigorous PA is associated with ...better levels of fitness.•Meeting the PA guidelines might be not enough to build fitness in this population.
The aim of the present study was to examine the associations of objectively measured physical activity (PA) with several markers of fatness and fitness in a relatively large sample of adolescents with Down syndrome (DS). This study comprised a total of 100 adolescents with DS (37 females) aged 11–20 years-old, and a sex-matched sample of 100 adolescents without disabilities, participating in the UP&DOWN study. The ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for adolescents was used to assess fatness and fitness. PA was measured by accelerometry. Adolescents with DS had higher fatness and significantly lower fitness levels in all variables measured than adolescents without DS (all p<0.05). Moderate-to-large effects were observed in fatness variables (d=0.65–1.42), but particularly large values were found in fitness variables (d=2.05–2.43). In addition, PA levels was not associated with fatness variables, whereas total PA and vigorous PA were associated with all fitness variables (p<0.05), and moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA) was associated with muscular fitness (p<0.05), after adjusting for potential confounders. Further analysis revealed that there were differences in fitness by tertiles of vigorous PA between the lowest and the highest groups in all fitness variables (all p<0.05). However, no significant differences were found in fitness by tertiles of MVPA according with PA guidelines (≥60min in MVPA). Our findings indicate that PA levels are not associated with fatness variables, whereas high PA levels, in particular vigorous PA, are positively associated with high fitness in adolescents with DS.
The aim of this study was to identify potential correlates of sedentary time and television (TV) viewing time in youth with Down syndrome (DS). A total of 98 adolescents with DS (63 males) aged ...11-20 years old participated in this study. Total sedentary time was measured using accelerometers, while total TV viewing time and potential correlates were measured using proxy-report questionnaire. Analyses of covariance and a stepwise multiple linear regression were performed to examine correlates of total sedentary time and total TV viewing time. Different potential correlates were associated with total sedentary time (mother age, mother TV viewing time, perceived benefits of physical activity, birth order and having nearby shops in the neighbourhood) and total TV viewing time (father TV viewing time, TV viewing time with parents, family dietary habits during watching TV and weekend days time indoor). The identification of correlates associated with sedentary behaviour, principally those considered modifiable such as social and environmental factors, may contribute to development strategies to decrease sedentary behaviour in adolescents with DS and consequently promote a healthier lifestyle.