RESUMO
During the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the physical activity of older adults is at a lower level. The study aimed to examine the effectiveness of aerobic dancing on physical fitness and cognitive function in older adults. We conducted a randomized controlled trial with 34 older adults who were assigned into an aerobic dancing group and a control group. Three dance sessions weekly for 60 âmin were scheduled for the aerobic dancing group for a total of 12 weeks. Physical fitness, blood pressure, lipids, glucose, cognitive function were assessed before and after the intervention. Baseline adjusted Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to determine whether outcome variables varied between groups at pre-test and post-test. Effect size (Cohen's d) was calculated to determine the differences between groups from baseline to post-test. After 12 weeks, we found that the aerobic dancing group showed significant improvement in memory (portrait memory: F â= â10.45, p â= â0.003, d â= â1.18). The Limit of Stability (LOS) parameters in the aerobic dancing group displayed a significant increase after the intervention (right angle: F â= â5.90, p â= â0.022, d â= â0.60; right-anterior angle: F â= â4.23, p â= â0.049, d â= â0.12). Some beneï¬cial effects were found on flexibility, grip strength, balance and subjective well-being (sit and reach: F â= â0.25, p â= â0.62, d â= â-0.40; grip strength: F â= â3.38, p â= â0.08, d â= â0.89; one-legged standing with eyes closed: F â= â1.26, p â= â0.27, d â= â0.50) in the aerobic dancing group. Aerobic dancing training was effective in improving memory and balance ability in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. In the future, aerobic dancing is a promising tool to encourage physical activity in older adults.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the associations between dietary patterns (breakfast, egg, dairy products, and sugared beverage intake frequencies) and physical fitness among Chinese children and adolescents in Shaanxi Province. METHODS: Data were extracted from the Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health (CNSSCH). The study ultimately included 7305 participants (48.4% male, 51.6% female) aged 6-22 in Shaanxi Province, China. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the association of the frequency of breakfast, egg, dairy product, and sugared beverage intakes with physical fitness. RESULTS: The frequency of breakfast, egg, and dairy product intakes were all independently and positively associated with the level of physical fitness. The frequency of sugared beverage intake was negatively associated with the level of physical fitness. CONCLUSION: Healthier dietary patterns (i.e., higher breakfast, egg, and dairy product intakes and lower sugared beverage intake) were associated with greater physical fitness. Specifically, maintaining a healthy dietary pattern of breakfast, egg, and dairy product intakes can positively affect the strength and endurance performance of children and adolescents. Increased dairy product intake plays a crucial part in boosting the physical fitness total scores of children and adolescents.
Assuntos
Desjejum , Comportamento Alimentar , Adolescente , Criança , China , Dieta , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Aptidão FísicaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the characteristics of trends in physical fitness and nutritional status among school-aged students during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could help to develop targeted guidelines and policies for students (adolescents) to promote health during lockdowns resulting from public health emergencies. METHODS: The physical fitness and nutritional status were measured from 2019 to 2021; the correlation between years and grade were analyzed. RESULTS: a declining trend was found in aerobic fitness, strength fitness, speed fitness, and BMI during this lockdown. CONCLUSION: The changes in dietary behavior and the decrease in outdoor physical activities may be the reason for the decline. Furthermore, differences in subjects' growth and limited space at home must be considered in the formulation of exercise and nutritional plans. According to the results of our study, exercise for aerobic fitness should receive more attention when students are enduring a pandemic lockdown. In addition, saying "no" to high-calorie foods in the form of snacking and ultra-processed food was the key to improving subjects' nutritional status.
