Adipokines and C-reactive protein as indicators of MetS presence in obese Greek children: The Healthy Growth Study.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) occurs in a proportion of overweight and obese children and increases their future risk of serious health complications, even in adolescence and young adulthood. We aimed to explore the role of certain adipokines and inflammatory markers in identifying children with MetS. METHODS: This study is a secondary analysis of data coming from the Healthy Growth Study, a cross-sectional study conducted with schoolchildren in Greece. The present study included data from a representative sample of 1376 schoolchildren (mean age: 11.19 ± 0.66 years), recruited from 77 primary schools in four large regions in Greece. Anthropometric, clinical and biochemical data were recorded. Children's body weight status and the presence of MetS were determined and their correlation with the serum levels of leptin, adiponectin and C-reactive protein (CRP) was explored. RESULTS: The prevalence of the MetS was 21.7 % and 3.7 % in obese and overweight children, respectively. The balance of adipokines was disturbed in obesity, as the serum level of adiponectin decreased as body weight increased, while the serum level of leptin increased. The serum level of the inflammatory marker CRP increased significantly as body weight increased. Discriminant analysis showed that these factors could distinguish the children with MetS as compared to children with no MetS. CONCLUSIONS: In the under study Mediterranean childhood population, monitoring of the levels of adipokines and CRP could identify the overweight and obese children with MetS. Appropriate individualized dietary and lifestyle interventions can be applied in these children to prevent health complications associated with MetS.

The influence of multiple administration of a psychomotor test on performance and learning.

Exercise scientists frequently use criterion measure tests to assess levels of motor performance and physical fitness or to evaluate the success of their intervention programs. During this process, the same motor test might be administered multiple times. The aim of the present study was to examine whether familiarization with a psychomotor test would influence performance and/or learning. One hundred thirty (n = 130) primary school students participated in the study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, experimental (n = 60, mean age = 10.74 years old, minimum = 9.08, maximum = 11.83) and control (n = 70, mean age = 10.68 years old, minimum = 9.5, maximum = 11.79). The flamingo balance test was used to examine the postulated hypothesis. Initially, both groups executed the balance test. Then, only the experimental group performed two additional trials, one trial every 3 days. A final trial was administered to all participants, followed by a retention trial 1 week later. The results revealed that both groups improved their performance. The experimental group outperformed the control group. The retention trial showed that performance levels for both groups continued to improve, suggesting that familiarization with the test influenced not only performance but learning as well. Exercise scientists who implement psychomotor tests, such as balance tests, for evaluative purposes should be aware that performance improvement does not necessary represent changes in individuals' performance, but it may reflect individuals' familiarization with the test.

Temporal stability of the intrinsic motivation inventory.

To examine the temporal stability of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory a Greek version was administered to 144 undergraduate students after an endurance field test. The same procedure was repeated one week later. Factor analysis followed by varimax rotation showed that three factors (Perceived Competence, Interest/enjoyment, and Effort/importance) explained 65.26% of the total variance. Computed intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were .61 for the Perceived Competence subscale, .86 for the Interest/enjoyment, .60 for the Effort/importance, and .70 for the overall scale. The results, however, were modified when the sample was divided in two groups. The first represented small changes in perceived competence between the first and the second measurement, while the second one represented large changes between the two measurements. Recalculated intraclass correlation coefficients for individuals whose Perceived Competence score remained relatively stable yield a high value (.92), whereas individuals whose Perceived Competence changed yield an extremely low value (.60). It was concluded that the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory provides a temporally stable measure, given that perceived competence has not been markedly changed.