Body Composition Profiles of Applicants to a Physical Education and Sports Major in Southeastern Mexico.

This study aimed to determine the body composition profile of candidates applying for a Physical Education and Sports major. 327 young adults (F: 87, M: 240) participated in this cross-sectional study. Nutritional status and body composition analysis were performed, and the profiles were generated using an unsupervised machine learning algorithm. Body mass index (BMI), percentage of fat mass (%FM), percentage of muscle mass (%MM), metabolic age (MA), basal metabolic rate (BMR), and visceral fat level (VFL) were used as input variables. BMI values were normal-weight although VFL was significantly higher in men (<0.001; η2 = 0.104). MA was positively correlated with BMR (0.81 [0.77, 0.85]; p < 0.01), BMI (0.87 [0.84, 0.90]; p < 0.01), and VFL (0.77 [0.72, 0.81]; p < 0.01). The hierarchical clustering analysis revealed two significantly different age-independent profiles: Cluster 1 (n = 265), applicants of both sexes that were shorter, lighter, with lower adiposity and higher lean mass; and, Cluster 2 (n = 62), a group of overweight male applicants with higher VFL, taller, with lower %MM and estimated energy expended at rest. We identified two profiles that might help universities, counselors and teachers/lecturers to identify applicants in which is necessary to increase physical activity levels and improve dietary habits.

Potential for body mass index as a tool to estimate body fat in young people. / Potencial del índice de masa corporal como indicador de grasa corporal en jóvenes.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to determine the anthropometric indicator that is most strongly associated with the percentage of body fat and self-regulation of eating behaviour and physical activity among young university students. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 3,869 Mexican university students, of which 53.9% were women. Standard procedures for anthropometry were followed, including weight, height and waist circumference. This data was used for calculating Body Mass Index (BMI), A Body Shape Index, waist-to-height ratio, Body Roundness Index and Conicity index. The self-regulation of eating habits scale and the self-regulation of physical activity scale were used. Mean with standard deviation, percentages and Pearson correlation coefficient were estimated. RESULTS: The group of men shown a higher prevalence of excess weight compared to the women. Inverse correlations between most anthropometric indices and self-regulation of eating behaviour and physical activity were found. However, in all cases the correlations were weak. The percentage of fat had a medium frequency of association with Conicity index and high with BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio and Body Roundness Index, where the BMI showed the highest correlation coefficient CONCLUSIONS: The BMI shows the highest magnitude of association with percentage of body fat in university students among the indicators analysed. Therefore it is suggested that nurses use BMI to determine obesity because it is easy to calculate.

Análisis estructural de la Escala de Bienestar Psicológico de Ryff en universitarios mexicanos / Structural analysis of the Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale among Mexican college students

Objetivos: realizar el análisis de la estructura interna de la versión en español de la Escala de Bienestar Psicológico de Ryff (PWBS-E) en estudiantes universitarios (n = 1700; 54.75% mujeres; Medad = 19.23) de una institución pública en Veracruz, México. Método: La estructura interna de la PWBS-E fue evaluada mediante el análisis factorial confirmatorio (CFA), el modelamiento de ecuaciones estructurales exploratorio (ESEM) y el análisis factorial exploratorio (EFA). La confiabilidad del constructo fue estimada con el coeficiente α y de las puntuaciones con el coeficiente α. Resultados: indicaron que una estructura unidimensional y breve (19 ítems) posee mayor respaldo empírico. Además, se evidenció la existencia de un factor de método asociado a ítems invertidos en los modelos multidimensionales. En cuanto a la confiabilidad, se hallaron indicadores aceptables en ambos niveles (constructo y puntuaciones). Conclusiones: se discuten los hallazgos y las implicancias prácticas de la versión breve de la PWBS-E en universitarios

Objectives: This paper aimed to analyze the internal structure of the Spanish version of the Ryff ’s psychological well-being scale (PWBS-E) among college students (n = 1700, 54.75% females, Mage = 19.23) who attend a public institution located in Veracruz, Mexico. Method: The internal structure of the PWBS-E was assessed using the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA), while the reliability of the construct was estimated with the ù coefficient and the reliability of the scores, with the α coefficient. Results: Suggested that a short and unidimensional structure (19 items) provides greater empirical support. In addition, a method factor associated with inverted items in multidimensional models was evidenced. Regarding the reliability, acceptable indicators were found in both levels (construct and scores). Conclusions: This paper addresses both the findings and practical implications of the short version of the PWBS-E among college students.

[Metabolic syndrome prevalence and its association with the body mass index in university students]. / Prevalencia de síndrome metabólico y su asociación con el índice de masa corporal en universitarios.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Few studies exist about metabolic syndrome (MS) in young Mexican adult populations. The prevalences of overweight, obesity, and MS were evaluated in a sample of university students from Veracruz, México. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Transversal analytical study performed in 402 student of new admission, aged 20-29 years belonging to Veracruzana University. Waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and serum glucose, triglycerides, and high-density lipoproteins (HDL)-cholesterol were determined. The MS was diagnosed applying the current National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP-III) criteria. RESULTS: Male subjects showed higher values of waist circumference, weight, stature, body mass index (BMI), triglycerides, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (p < 0.005, in all cases). The prevalence of central obesity was 9.5%; hypertriglyceridemia, 13.2; low HDL-cholesterol, 28.9%; high systolic and diastolic blood pressures, 9.2%; and hyperglucemia, 6.0%. 48% showed 1-4 NCEP-ATPIII criteria for MS. Global prevalence of MS was 3.7%. The BMI inclusion increased the MS prevalence in overweight and obese student (8.2 vs 0.8%) (x2 = 14.6; p < 0.001; odds ratio = 10.8; 95% confidence interval, 2.4-48.8). CONCLUSIONS: The BMI inclusion improved the MS diagnostic in young adults. Because almost half of the subjects presented at least one MS factor, the need of preventive implementations in young populations and to develop longitudinal studies to ascertain the effect of MS later in life is suggested.