[Physical fitness of school age children post-implementation of an educational intervention to prevent childhood obesity in Morelos, Mexico.] / Condición física de escolares tras intervención educativa para prevenir obesidad infantil en Morelos, México.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the physical fitness of children from eight elementary schools in Morelos, México after the imple- mentation of an intervention to prevent childhood obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 214 children were randomly selected (111 - intervention community and 103 - control community). Physical fitness was evaluated by the 6 minutes walking test and the 50 meters speed test, as well as the number of steps/day. RESULTS: The median of time in the speed test at the intervention site was 11.3 seconds and 13.8seconds at the control site (p<0.001). The median distance traveled in the walking test was 550 m in the intervention site and 420 m in the control site (p<0.001). The children of the intervention community took a median of 15 161 steps/ day and those of the control community took 13 749 steps/ day (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Children from the intervention community have significantly better physical fitness.

OBJETIVO: Comparar la condición física de niños/as de ocho escuelas primarias del estado de Morelos, posimplementación de una intervención para prevenir obesidad infanti. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se seleccionaron aleatoriamente 214 niños/ as (111 localidad intervención y 103 localidad control). La condición física se evaluó mediante pruebas de marcha con duración de seis minutos y de velocidad en 50 metros, así como número de pasos/día. RESULTADOS: La mediana de tiempo en la prueba de velocidad en la localidad intervención fue de 11.3 segundos y en la localidad control 13.8 segundos (p<0.001). La mediana de la distancia recorrida en la prueba de marcha fue de 550 m en la localidad intervención y 420 m en la localidad control (p<0.001). Los niños/as de la comunidad intervención tuvieron una mediana de 15 161 pasos/día y los de la localidad control, de 13 749 pasos/día (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONES: Los niños/as de la localidad intervención tienen mejor condición física.

Condición física de escolares tras intervención educativa para prevenir obesidad infantil en Morelos, México / Physical fitness of school age children post-implementation of an educational intervention to prevent childhood obesity in Morelos, Mexico

Resumen: Objetivo: Comparar la condición física de niños/as de ocho escuelas primarias del estado de Morelos, posimplementación de una intervención para prevenir obesidad infantil. Material y métodos: Se seleccionaron aleatoriamente 214 niños/ as (111 localidad intervención y 103 localidad control). La condición física se evaluó mediante pruebas de marcha con duración de seis minutos y de velocidad en 50 metros, así como número de pasos/día. Resultados: La mediana de tiempo en la prueba de velocidad en la localidad intervención fue de 11.3 segundos y en la localidad control 13.8 segundos (p<0.001). La mediana de la distancia recorrida en la prueba de marcha fue de 550 m en la localidad intervención y 420 m en la localidad control (p<0.001). Los niños/as de la comuni dad intervención tuvieron una mediana de 15 161 pasos/día y los de la localidad control, de 13 749 pasos/día (p<0.05). Conclusiones: Los niños/as de la localidad intervención tienen mejor condición física.

Abstract : Objective: To compare the physical fitness of children from eight elementary schools in Morelos, México after the imple mentation of an intervention to prevent childhood obesity. Materials and methods: 214 children were randomly selected (111 - intervention community and 103 - control community). Physical fitness was evaluated by the 6 minutes walking test and the 50 meters speed test, as well as the number of steps/day. Results: The median of time in the speed test at the intervention site was 11.3 seconds and 13.8 seconds at the control site (p<0.001). The median distance traveled in the walking test was 550 m in the intervention site and 420 m in the control site (p<0.001). The children of the intervention community took a median of 15 161 steps/ day and those of the control community took 13 749 steps/ day (p<0.05). Conclusions: Children from the intervention community have significantly better physical fitness.

Recreational physical activity is inversely associated with asymptomatic gallstones in adult Mexican women.

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE: Epidemiologic research suggests that physical activity (PA) reduces the risk of chronic diseases including gallstones. OBJECTIVE: This study explores the association between recreational physical activity (RPA) and risk of asymptomatic gallstones (AG) in adult Mexican women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of women from the Health Workers Cohort Study. The study population included Mexican women aged 17-94 years, with no history of gallstone (GS) or cholecystectomy. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on weight change, gynecological health history, cholesterol-lowering medications and diuretics, history of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2), PA and diet. PA was calculated in minutes/day, minutes/week and Metabolic Equivalents (METs)/week. Gallstone diagnosis was performed using real-time ultrasonography. The association between RPA and risk of AG was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression models. Results. Of the 4,953 women involved in the study, 12.3% were diagnosed with AG. The participants with AG were significantly older, had a higher body mass index, and had a higher prevalence of DM2 than those without AG. The participants with > 30 min/day of RPA had lower odds of AG (OR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.65-0.97; P = 0.03), regardless of other known risk factors for gallstone disease. Furthermore, we observed an inverse relationship between RPA time and AG risk, especially in women doing more than 150 min a week of RPA (OR = 0.76; 95%CI: 0.61- 0.95; P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: These findings support the hypothesis that RPA may protect against AG, although further prospective investigations are needed to confirm this association.

[Results of a community-based life style intervention program for children]. / Resultados de un programa comunitario de intervención en el estilo de vida en niños.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the three-year results of a program designed for the adoption of a healthy life style in primary school students on the body mass index (BMI) and the consumption of food. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Community randomized and controlled trial. Two communities in the State of Mexico with similar socio-demographic characteristics were randomized to implement the intervention (n=816) or serve as a control (n=408). The intervention was carried out in primary schools and it consisted of education on healthy habits, modification of distributed food and physical activity. The primary outcome was the change in BMI. RESULTS: After three years, intervention resulted in a lower increase of BMI (1.6 vs. 1.9 Kg/m², p< 0.01) and a decreased consumption of total calories, bread, fat and sugar consumption in the schools. CONCLUSIONS: School programs are useful to address childhood obesity, but its benefits are not immediate.

Physical activity and reduced risk of depression: results of a longitudinal study of Mexican adults.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of physical activity (PA) on the risk of depression among Mexican adults over a 6-year follow-up period. METHOD: We evaluated longitudinal data from the Health Worker Cohort Study, which follows employees of the Mexican Institute for Social Security in Morelos State, Mexico, over time. Depressive symptoms and PA were assessed at baseline and at a follow-up measurement 6 years later. The study population was free of depressive symptomatology at baseline, as assessed by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). After 6 years, the CES-D was completed once again by the participants to estimate their risk of depression based on the different PA patterns they reported during the follow-up period. PA was estimated using a questionnaire that has been applied in similar longitudinal studies and has been validated in Spanish, with metabolic equivalents (METs) as the unit of measurement. We identified three PA patterns: highly active, moderately active, and inactive. The relative risk of depression (CES-D score ≥ 16 points) was estimated using multivariate logistical regression analysis according to the PA patterns at a follow-up measurement 6 years later. RESULTS: The incidence of depression after 6 years was higher among inactive participants (16.5%) than among those with an active PA pattern (10.6%). We found that more active PA patterns have an important protective effect against depression. The odds ratio (OR) for the more active PA patterns was 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.25, 0.87], and for individuals with a moderately active PA pattern, the OR was 0.57, 95% CI [0.34, 0.93]. These ORs were obtained after adjusting for confounding variables and baseline PA levels. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that PA may reduce risk of depression in Mexican adults. These findings have potential applications for depression prevention programs in target populations with similar social and cultural contexts.

Resultados de un programa comunitario de intervención en el estilo de vida en niños / Results of a community based life style intervention program for children

Objetivo. Describir los resultados de un programa de adopción de estilo de vida saludable, aplicado durante tres años, sobre el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y el consumo de alimentos en escolares. Material y métodos. Ensayo comunitario aleatorizado y controlado. Dos comunidades del Estado de México con características sociodemográficas similares fueron aleatorizadas para implementar la intervención (n=816) o servir como control (n=408). La intervención se llevó a cabo en escuelas primarias y consistió en educación sobre hábitos saludables, modificación de los alimentos distribuidos y actividad física. El desenlace principal fue el cambio en el IMC. Resultados. Después de tres años, la intervención resultó en un menor incremento del IMC (1.6 vs. 1.9 Kg/m², p<0.01) y menor consumo escolar de calorías totales, pan, grasa y azúcar. Conclusiones. Los programas escolares son útiles para enfrentar la obesidad infantil, pero sus beneficios no son inmediatos.

Objective. Describe the three-year results of a program designed for the adoption of a healthy life style in primary school students on the body mass index (BMI) and the consumption of food. Materials and methods. Community randomized and controlled trial. Two communities in the State of Mexico with similar socio-demographic characteristics were randomized to implement the intervention (n=816) or serve as a control (n=408). The intervention was carried out in primary schools and it consisted of education on healthy habits, modification of distributed food and physical activity. The primary outcome was the change in BMI. Results. After three years, intervention resulted in a lower increase of BMI (1.6 vs. 1.9 Kg/m², p< 0.01) and a decreased consumption of total calories, bread, fat and sugar consumption in the schools. Conclusions. School programs are useful to address childhood obesity, but its benefits are not immediate.