Effects of a multicomponent intervention on cardiovascular risk factors in overweight children: a randomized clinical trial in light of complex systems.

Analyzing the effects of interventions from a theoretical and statistical perspective that allows understanding these dynamic relationships of obesity etiology can be a more efficient and innovative way of understanding the phenomenon's complexity. Thus, we aimed to analyze the pattern of cardiovascular risk factors between-participants, and the effects within-participants of a multidisciplinary intervention on cardiovascular risk factors in overweight children. This is a randomized clinical trial, and 41 participated in this study. A multicomponent intervention (physical activities, nutritional and psychological counseling) was performed for 10 weeks. Anthropometric and hemodynamics measurements, lipid and glucose profile, cardiorespiratory fitness, and left ventricular mass were evaluated. A network analysis was done. Considering patterns in the network at baseline, WC, WHR, BMI, and Fat were the main variables for cardiovascular risks. Group was the most critical variable in the within-participant network. Participating in a multicomponent intervention and decreasing body fat promoted beneficial cardiovascular factors.

Effects of a randomized controlled study on the behaviors of overweight schoolchildren / Efeitos de um estudo controlado randomizado sobre os comportamentos de escolares sobrepesados

This study aimed to determine the effects of a school-based multi-component intervention on accel-erometer-measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) in schoolchildren overweight. This is a randomized controlled study with overweight schoolchildren, allocated to experimental group (EG; n = 13; 7.6 ± 0.8 years; 42.9% boys) and control group (CG; n = 17; 8.2 ± 0.9 years; 26.7% boys). The EG was submitted to a 10-week school-based intervention, comprised of PA and psychological sessions (behavioral therapy), and nutritional guidance. The CG followed the daily routine of life. The time of PA and SB were measured using accelerometers used for seven days. To compare mean SB, moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and total physical activity (TPA), generalized estimation equations (GEE) were used. It was observed thatthe average time in MVPA and TPA increased significantly in EG at the weekend (+ 40.9 min / day, p < 0.001; and + 51.6 min /day, p = 0.035, respectively) and at full week (+ 62.9 min/day, p < 0.001; and + 225.0 9 min/day, p = 0.038, respectively). There was no significant difference in time spent in SB after the intervention in both groups. Thus, it was concluded that the proposed school-based multicomponent intervention was effective in increasing levels of MVPA and TPA in overweight schoolchildren. This finding can optimize future interventions to promote a healthy lifestyle for schoolchildren in the school environment

Este estudo objetivou analisar o efeito de uma intervenção multicomponente de base-escolar sobre os níveis de atividade física (AF) e comportamento sedentário (CS) mensurados por acelerômetro, de escolares com sobrepeso. Trata-se de um estudo controlado randomizado com escolares sobrepesados alocadas em grupo ex-perimental (GE; n = 13; 7,6 ± 0,8 anos; 42,9% meninos) e grupo controle (GC; n = 17; 8,2 ± 0,9 anos; 26,7% meninos). O GE foi submetido a uma intervenção escolar de 10 semanas, composta por sessões de AF e psicológica (terapia comportamental) e orientação nutricional. O GC seguiu a rotina diária de vida. O tempo de AF e o CS foram medidos por meio de acelerômetros, utilizados durante sete dias. Para comparar o tempo médio de CS, atividade física moderada a vigorosa (AFMV ) e atividade física total (AFT), foram utilizadas equações de estimativa generalizadas (GEE). Observou-se queo tempo médio em AFMV e AFT aumentaram significativamente no GE no fim de semana (+ 40,9 min / dia, p < 0,001; e + 51,6 min / dia, p = 0,035, respectivamente) e na semana inteira (+ 62,9 min / dia, p < 0,001; e + 225,0 min/dia, p = 0,038, respectivamente). Não houve diferença significativa no tempo gasto em CS após a intervenção em ambos os grupos. Assim, conclui-se que uma intervenção multicomponente de base escolar proposta foi eficaz no aumento dos níveis de AFMV e AFT em escolares com sobrepeso. Esse achado pode otimizar futuras intervenções em promover um estilo de vida saudável de crianças no âmbito escolar

Commuting to school and to work among high school students in Santa Catarina state, Brazil: a comparative analysis between 2001 and 2011.

BACKGROUND: Commuting reflects an important opportunity for youth to engage in physical activity. This study aimed to compare modes of commuting to school and to work and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with various modes of transportation. METHODS: Epidemiologic study with a repeated cross-sectional design. Participants included high school students (15-19 years of age) from Santa Catarina state, Brazil, in 2001 (n = 5028) and 2011 (n = 6529). A questionnaire containing information on the type of transport used to commute to school and to work was administered. RESULTS: Walking/bicycling and the use of the bus to commute to school and to work remained stable after a decade; however, the use of car/motorcycle to school (6.4% versus 12.6%) and to work (10.2% versus 19.7%) increased significantly. In both cases, females more frequently used buses, whereas males commuted to work by car/bus. Students from rural areas more commonly commuted to school by car/motorcycle, whereas those from urban areas traveled to work more by bus. There was a greater use of cars/motorcycles by young people from higher-income families. CONCLUSIONS: The use of cars/motorcycles to commute to school/work has almost doubled in the last decade. Sex, residential area and income were associated with passive commuting.