Physical Fitness Reference Standards in French Youth: The BOUGE Program.

The aim of this study was to establish sex- and age-specific physical fitness percentiles in French youth. A sample of 11,186 children and adolescents (5,546 boys and 5,640 girls), aged between 10 and 15 years, was assessed in the French national BOUGE study. Participants were tested for their cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, speed, flexibility, and agility using the following tests: 20-m shuttle run tests, curl-ups test, 50-m sprint test, back-saver sit and reach test, and 10 × 5-m shuttle run test. Percentile values were estimated for French youth as a function of age stratified by sex using the generalized additive model for location, scale, and shape (GAMLSS). In general, physical fitness was better in boys than in girls, except for the back-saver sit and reach test, in which girls performed better. Except for the back-saver sit and reach test and 10 × 5-m shuttle run test, physical fitness performance was significantly associated with age. Sex- and age-specific normative values for physical fitness tests in French youth expressed as percentiles from the fifth to the 95th are provided. Reference values provide normative data for French youth. The data are useful in identifying special needs for appropriate intervention programs.

Physical activity using wrist-worn accelerometers: comparison of dominant and non-dominant wrist.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in physical activity assessment between a wrist-worn accelerometer at the dominant or non-dominant arm. The secondary purpose was to assess the concurrent validity of measures of physical activity from the wrist-worn accelerometer and the waist-worn accelerometer. Forty adults wore three accelerometers simultaneously, one on the waist and one each on the non-dominant wrist and dominant wrist, respectively, for 24 consecutive hours of free-living conditions. Data were uploaded from the monitor to a computer following a 1-day test period. There were no significant differences in physical activity when comparing the dominant versus the non-dominant wrist, regardless of axis (P>0·05). Mean daily accelerometer output data from both wrists were strongly correlated with average counts per minute from the ActiGraph worn around the waist (r = 0·88, P<0·001). Findings suggest that the choice to wear the accelerometer on the non-dominant or dominant wrist has no impact on results. Data from this study contribute to the knowledge of how to best assess physical activity habits.

Prevalence of overweight, obesity, underweight and normal weight in French youth from 2009 to 2013.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in French youth from 2009 to 2013 and to determine if there are differences in weight categories according to socio-economic status. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study performed in different regions of France. Physical measures included weight, height and BMI. Underweight, overweight and obesity were defined according to age- and sex-specific BMI cut-off points from the International Obesity Task Force. SETTING: France. SUBJECTS: Children and adolescents (n 9670; 4836 boys, 4834 girls) from the French national BOUGE Program between 2009 and 2013. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity was higher in boys than girls (P0·05) and remained unchanged in boys (7·1-7·3 %) between 2009 and 2013. Overweight and obesity were higher in low socio-economic families (P<0·0001). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that the prevalence of overweight was stable although high in French children and adolescents, while the prevalence of obesity increased significantly. Changes in underweight, although not significant, were high in girls and merit further attention. Improving public health interventions, especially in high-risk low socio-economic populations, may help to modify the behaviour that contributes to underweight, overweight and obesity in young boys and girls.

Reliability of health-related physical fitness tests in adolescents: the MOVE Program.

The aim was to examine the reliability of health-related physical fitness tests that were used in a French health promotion program 'Move…A priority for your health'. Participants were 174 French youth (88 children and 86 adolescents) aged 8·2-16·2 years. Aerobic fitness, muscular strength, speed and flexibility were tested using 20-m shuttle run test, ½ mile run test, basketball throw, standing long jump, shoulder stretch and 20/30/50-m sprint tests. Reliability was calculated for the basketball throw, standing long jump, shoulder stretch and sprint tests. The tests were performed two times, 1 week apart on the same day of the week. Reliability was examined with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman analysis. With the exception of the ½ mile run test, which resulted in moderate agreement (0·66), all tests had high reliability. ICCs were 0·97, 0·93, 0·91 and 0·93 for the sprint test, basketball throw, shoulder stretch and the standing long jump, respectively. The differences obtained between the first and the second trial were non-significant. Results from this study indicate that the BOUGE health-related physical fitness battery, administrated by physical education teachers, was reliable for measuring health-related components of fitness in children and adolescents in a school setting.

Physical fitness levels of adolescents in the Ile de France region: comparisons with European standards and relevance for future cardiovascular risk.

The aim was to assess physical fitness in French schoolchildren in the region of Ile de France and to compare the results with European countries. The relationship between physical fitness and future health profile was of particular interest. Participants were 1851 French youth in the Ile de France region. Cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, speed, flexibility and speed agility were tested. Independent t-tests were used to compare differences between different variables. Spearman's rho correlation coefficients assessed the relationship between body mass index, socio-economic status and physical fitness. Boys were physically fitter than girls with the most significant difference being in agility. Subjects of normal weight have significantly better results than overweight or obese adolescents (+10·9% to 56·1%) (P<0·05). Subjects with high socio-economic status had better physical fitness than those with low socio-economic status (+0·5% to 9·4%) (P<0·05). Results also showed that the percentage of adolescents at increased future cardiovascular risk was 15·3% and 10·2% for boys and girls, respectively. Physical fitness in French schoolchildren living in the region of Ile de France is relatively low and unfavourable, especially in girls, when compared with existing European test results. In contrast, the adolescent boys are generally fitter and also above the average of the European data. Introducing a health promotion curriculum in the schools of Ile de France is suggested to improve health and physical fitness.

Strategies in intervention programmes for obese youth: implication of the age and the type of physical activities.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of age and type of physical activity on anthropometric measures of obese youth participating in an intervention programme. Subjects included 37 obese children (12·5 ± 2·9 years). The programme consisted of a unique programme of physical activity and health education. Assessments included body mass index (BMI), body composition and ability to perform sport activities. Paired t-tests were used to assess the effects of intervention, and chi square was used to assess interaction between measures. Findings suggest significant decrease in Z-scores of BMI and an improvement in the ability to perform sport activities (P<0·05). The effectiveness of the programme has more impact on children than adolescents (P<0·05). Improvements were greater in team versus net sports (P<0·05). Results show that intervention strategies have to be different according to the age to have a favourable effect on anthropometric characteristic and the consequences of obesity childhood and adulthood. The findings suggest that the intervention programme was of greater benefit for children than adolescents.

Influence of sleep timing behavior on weight status and activity patterns in adults with intellectual disabilities.

The aim was to explore the relationship between sleep habits and overweight/obesity, physical activity and sedentary behaviors in French adults with intellectual disabilities. This observational study was conducted on 570 French adults with intellectual deficiency. Sleep habits were analyzed and related to anthropometric measures, physical activity and sedentary behaviors. The study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Participants completed the questionnaire during an interview with the principal investigator. Sleep timing behavior was classified into 4 sleep patterns: Early-bed/Early-rise, Early-bed/Late-rise, Late-bed/Late-rise, and Late-bed/Early-rise. Of 570 eligible participants, 61 were excluded because of missing data on age, weight or height. The number of participants identified in each of the four sleep patterns was as follows: Early-bed/Early-rise, N = 119 (23%), Early-bed/Late-rise, N = 171 (34%), Late-bed/Early-rise, N = 100 (20%), Late-bed/Late-rise N = 119 (23%). Participants who wake up earlier are more active than those who rise late (p < 0.02). Participants who slept later spent more time in sedentary activities than those in the Early rise groups (p < 0.01). The number of obese/overweight participants was also higher in Late-bed/Late rise group. Sleep behavior was associated with overweight/obesity, physical activity and sedentary behavior in adults with intellectual deficiency, independently the sleep duration. Implementing intervention or promotion programs on sleep behaviors should be considered in order to meet the objectives of promoting health on anthropometric characteristics and increased physical activity among these disabled adults.

Relationship between tactics and energy expenditure according to level of experience in badminton.

Research on racket sports has traditionally focused on expert players and has treated energy expenditure and tactics as independent factors. These prior studies could not assess how energy expenditure and tactics changed as a function of experience and skill. Here, the specific relationship between playing tactics and energy expenditure in badminton were assessed. Participants were classified into five stages of badminton experience on the basis of conative criteria: structural (physical abilities), technical (technical skills), and functional (tactics). The physical activity of 99 players (47 beginners, 15 intermediates, 30 advanced, and 7 experts) was measured using a three-axis accelerometer during a badminton set (21 points, no extra scoring). The results showed that physical activity (counts/sec.) ranged between about 115 (Stage 1) and 155 (Stage 5), and differed significantly across the conative stages. For Stages 2 and 4, defined by an increase in use of tactics, physical activity increased substantially. For Stage 3, defined by a decrease in use of tactics, physical activity decreased significantly. Thus, tactically-oriented play appears to be closely related to physical activity.

Technical variability of the Vivago® wrist-worn accelerometer.

The aim was to assess the technical variability of a new wrist-worn accelerometer under controlled conditions with a shaker device and during normal daily physical activities (PAs). In the first experiment, 10 wrist-worn accelerometers (Vivago(®) Wellness, Paris, France) were attached to the shaker device. Variability was tested at five shaking frequencies (1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, and 10 Hz) for 10 min at each frequency. In the second experiment, 21 participants wore wrist-worn accelerometers and performed six consecutive 10-min periods of activity at increasing levels of intensity from sedentary to vigorous. Results from the first experiment show a modest inter- and intra-instrument reliability at low frequencies and that reliability improved as frequency increased. The inter-instrument coefficient of variation (CV) was 2.6-18.3%. The intra-instrument CV was 4.1-23.2%. Variability was similar in the second experiment with a CV inversely related to PA intensity. The inter- and intra-instrument CV varied from 24.2% and 19.9% for sedentary activities to 3.7% and 4.3% for vigorous PA, respectively. Results suggest that reliability was higher at high intensities, corresponding to moderate and vigorous PA, intensities generally recommended for public health purposes.

How many days of accelerometer monitoring predict weekly physical activity behaviour in obese youth?

The aim of this study was to determine the type and the number of accelerometer monitoring days needed to predict weekly sedentary behaviour and physical activity in obese youth. Fifty-three obese youth wore a triaxial accelerometer for 7 days to measure physical activity in free-living conditions. Analyses of variance for repeated measures, Intraclass coefficient (ICC) and regression linear analyses were used. Obese youth spent significantly less time in physical activity on weekends or free days compared with school days. ICC analyses indicated a minimum of 2 days is needed to estimate physical activity behaviour. ICC were 0·80 between weekly physical activity and weekdays and 0·92 between physical activity and weekend days. The model has to include a weekday and a weekend day. Using any combination of one weekday and one weekend day, the percentage of variance explained is >90%. Results indicate that 2 days of monitoring are needed to estimate the weekly physical activity behaviour in obese youth with an accelerometer. Our results also showed the importance of taking into consideration school day versus free day and weekday versus weekend day in assessing physical activity in obese youth.

Concurrent validity of the modified International Physical Activity Questionnaire for French obese adolescents.

Physical activity is an important component of a healthy lifestyle. Evaluating and promoting this activity warrants careful attention, particularly in the context of preventing obesity associated with low physical activity. The aim of the present study was to assess the concurrent validity of a modified, long, self-administered version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) using triaxial accelerometry in 56 youth with obesity. The participants' physical activity was measured with an RT3 accelerometer (objective measure) and with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (IPAQ-A; subjective measure). Although the two methods were correlated strongly (r = .84), there was a significant difference between the two methods. The participants' subjective ratings on the IPAQ-A overestimated the objective measure. Although activity questionnaires are simple and widely used in assessing physical activity, alternative methods should be used when measuring physical activity in youth with obesity.

Prevalence of overweight in adolescents with intellectual deficiency. Differences in socio-educative context, physical activity and dietary habits.

The study investigates the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a population of intellectually disabled (ID) adolescents. An observational study was conducted on a group of 410 ID children, living in France. Overweight and obesity, defined according to international standards, were analyzed and related to demographic and sociological parameters, educational care, physical activity and dietary habits. The study highlighted a high prevalence of overweight and obesity (19.0%) in ID adolescents and 22.5% in oldest teenagers, age 15-20 y. This observation was more likely in medico-educative institutes (25.1%) than in general schools (12.3%). Average time spent in physical activity was 4.5 h/week, compared with 3.5 h/week in obese subjects. Time spent in sedentary behavior was 26.6 h/week for the whole population, compared with 18.6 h/week in obese adolescents. Meals were ingested regularly, and adherence to eating breakfast was good. However, snacks and soft drinks were consumed between and during meals by 66.5% of subjects. Overweight in young ID appeared to be related to parental overweight. Even though ID adolescents receive a balanced diet and practice sport regularly, they exhibit a high prevalence for overweight and obesity. In subjects more than 15 years of age, enrollment in medico-educative institutes and parental overweight were contributory factors to poor weight status.

Disminución del riesgo cardiovascular en adolescentes. Aplicación del programa de prevención PATH (Physical Activity and Teenage Health) / Cardiovascular risk decrease in teenagers. Aplication of the preventive program path (Physical activity and teenage health)

Las enfermedades cardiovasculares representan hoy en día una de las principales causas de mortalidad en los países desarrollados. Parece que el proceso se inicia en la infancia y la adolescencia, con la adquisición de estilos de vida no saludables que conducirán a la enfermedad cardiovascu- lar en la edad adulta. Por ello, se piensa que una de las mejores estrategias para combatir estas enfermedades sería iniciar las actividades preventivas a edades muy tempranas. Con esta intención se desarrolló el Programa PATH (Phy- sical Activity and Teenage Health) , programa destinado a mejorar la salud cardiovascular y disminuir el riesgo futuro de estas enfermedades mediante el aumento de conoci- mientos relacionados con la salud, la modificación de los estilos de vida y el entrenamiento físico. La aplicación de este programa en escolares norteamericanos tuvo como resultado la disminución de la tensión arterial y el aumento de la capacidad aeróbica de los individuos, junto con el importante aumento de los conocimientos de salud. En este trabajo se estudian los resultados de la primera aplicación del Programa PATH en adolescentes españoles. La aplicación del programa disminuyó significativamente la tensión arterial y aumentó de forma significativa la capacidad aeróbica de los escolares medida en términos de VO 2 máx. Estos resultados se acompañaron de un aumento muy importante en los conocimientos de salud. Los resultados de este trabajo sugieren que el Programa PATH es de gran interés para la prevención de la enferme- dad cardiovascular, y su aplicación en el entorno escolar es plenamente viable(AU)

Cardiovascular illnesses represent today one of the main causes of mortality in the developed countries. It seems that the process begins in childhood and adolescence, with the acquisition of non healthy lifestyles that will lead to the cardiovascular illness in the adult age. So, it is thought that one of the best strategies to combat these illnesses would be to begin the preventive activities to very early ages. In this way, the PATH Program (Physical Activity and Teenage Health) was developed to improve the cardiovas- cular health and diminish the future risk of these illnesses by means of the increase of knowledge related with the health, the modification of the lifestyles and the physical training. The application of this program in North Ameri- can scholars had the decrease of the arterial pressure and the increase of the aerobic capacity of the individuals as a result, together with the important increase of the knowled- ge of health. In this work the results of the first application of the PATH Program in Spanish adolescents are evaluated. The appli- cation of the program diminished significantly arterial pres- sure. Furthermore, aerobic capacity of the scholars measure increased in a significant way in terms of VO 2 max. These results were accompanied of a very important increase in the knowledge of health. The results of this work suggest that the PATH Program is of great interest for the prevention of the cardiovascular illness, and its application in our school environment is fully viable (AU)

Improvements in heart health behaviors and reduction in coronary artery disease risk factors in urban teenaged girls through a school-based intervention: the PATH program.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess the effects of a school-based intervention program on cardiovascular disease risk factors in urban girls. METHODS: We compared heart health knowledge, health behaviors, cardiovascular risk factors, and physical fitness among a group of 442 multiethnic teenaged girls (310 experimental participants vs 132 control participants). Testing was conducted before and after a 12-week program of vigorous exercises integrated with lectures and discussions on diet, exercise, stress, and smoking. RESULTS: Significant differences in body fat, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart health knowledge, and whether breakfast was eaten were observed between experimental participants and control participants. CONCLUSIONS: An integrated program of exercise and heart health-related lectures and discussions had a beneficial effect on health knowledge, health behaviors, and onset of risk factors for coronary artery disease among urban girls.

Monitoring Cardiac Patients: How Much Is Enough?

In brief ECG monitoring is generally recommended for patients in cardiac rehabilitation, but the optimal amount of monitoring is uncertain. This article reviews several questions regarding this issue. The authors conclude that monitoring during exercise testing is necessary to determine an appropriate exercise prescription for all cardiac patients, but additional monitoring is not indicated during upper extremity as opposed to lower extremity exercise. They also believe that all patients entering exercise programs soon after hospital discharge should be monitored for at least seven weeks, and preferably 12. Periodic monitoring is useful for recognizing potential problems and evaluating long-term medication effectiveness.