Habitual physical activity and body composition of black township adolescents residing in the North West Province, South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: It is known that stunting and obesity affect a large proportion of children in the world, and these can be affected by the physical activity levels of the children. In the present study, we evaluated the association between physical activity, physical development and body composition in black adolescent children. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Black township schools in the North West Province, South Africa. METHODS: Three-hundred and thirteen grade 8 children were included in the Physical Activity in Youth study. Anthropometric measurements, body composition measures and maturity level as assessed by Tanner stages were determined in these children. In addition, Previous Day Physical Activity Recall questionnaires were administered on the children to record the various activities they undertake daily. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics of the children showed a high level of homogeneity. A high prevalence of stunting (16.3%) was observed in the children, which was higher in boys than in girls (21.6 vs. 12.3%). Also prevalent was overweight/obesity (8.6%), but this was higher in girls than in boys (13.4 vs. 1.6%). The children also showed a reduction in levels of physical activity with advancement in maturity; furthermore, boys showed a more central form of fat deposition whilst girls showed more gynoid deposition. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that physical activity plays a role in determining body composition, and further indicated that physical activity is associated with favourable body composition measures. Children who were more active were likely to have less fat deposits.

Cardiovascular function of African women with different BMIs and blood pressures: the POWIRS study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the cardiovascular profiles of a group of African women with different body mass indices and blood pressures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included a sample of 98 apparently healthy African women. The subjects were divided into three groups: lean normotensive (lean NT), overweight/obese normotensive (OW/OB NT), and overweight/obese hypertensive (OW/OB HT). The Finometer apparatus was used to obtain a more elaborate cardiovascular profile. The lipid profile and subcutaneous fat distributions were also determined. RESULTS: A positive correlation between blood pressure and increased adiposity was obtained. Cardiac output (CO) was elevated in both OW/OB groups. Arterial compliance (CW) was significantly decreased and total peripheral resistance (TPR) significantly increased in the OW/OB HT group compared to the OW/OB NT group. In the total group, systolic and diastolic blood pressure could be explained best by the abdominal skinfold, which showed a direct positive association with TPR and a negative association with CW . In the OW/OB HT group, the increased TPR could best be explained by the abdominal skinfold. CONCLUSIONS: In the OW/OB HT group, an increase in CO and decrease in vascular function led to the hypertensivity of this group. This seems to be related to a truncal, especially abdominal subcutaneous fat distribution. The decreased vascular function was reaffirmed by the pulse pressure (PP) exceeding 63 mmHg, indicating that this group was at high risk for the development of further cardiovascular complications. Lack of significant differences between the OW/OB groups for the anthropometric and lipid profile variables and the difference in age may indicate that the younger OW/OB NT group was at high risk and should be followed up in ensuing years.

Obesity as Inflammatory Condition

The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically in the past decade. This foreshadows an increase in the rates of morbidity and mortality from obesity-related diseases. Research is more frequently proposing that obesity may be seen as a factor linking chronic; systemic inflammation and atherosclerosis. C-reactive protein is an acute phase reactant and a sensitive marker for acute and chronic inflammation of diverse causes. Human adipose tissue expresses interleukin-6; a cytokine that activates the production of C-reactive protein from the liver; potentially inducing low-grade systemic inflammation in persons with excess body fat. This could explain the increased risk of diabetes; heart disease and many other chronic diseases in the obese. This paper aims to provide a review on obesity as an ever-growing epidemic and the possible role that chronic systemic inflammation might play in contributing to the risks associated with one of the most common public health problems