Associations of visceral fat area and physical activity levels with the risk of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women.

This study was aimed at the evaluation of relationship between visceral fat area (VFA) and physical activity (PA) with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk in the physically active postmenopausal women. A total of 85 attendants of the University of the Third Age (U3A) aged 62.8 ± 5.9 years (median time since menopause 11.8 y), participated in this study. VFA was assessed by bioimpedance method using InBody 720 analyzer. PA was assessed using the ActiGraph GT1 M accelerometer. Fasting levels of serum lipids (TG, HDL), serum glucose, waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure were measured to diagnose MetS according to NCEP-ATP III criteria. In 73 out of 85 participants the VFA exceeded the upper normal level of 100 cm2, however, in almost a half of this group (n = 36) with elevated VFA (139.5 ± 26.1 cm2 on average), only 2 out of 5 criteria for MetS diagnosis were met. Participants were physically active, making on average 10,919 ± 3435 steps/day. The risk of MetS occurrence in women with VFA > 100 cm2 was twelve times higher (OR 12.33; CI 95% [1.5; 99.8]) than in the group with VFA < 100 cm2. The participants from the group with the highest PA level (≥12,500 steps/day) were at almost 4 times lower risk for MetS, than their less active counterparts (OR 3.84; CI 95% [1.27;11.64]). Increased level of VFA is a strong risk factor for the MetS in postmenopausal women, however high level of regular PA above the threshold of 12,500 steps/day may substantially reduce it.

Physical activity, body composition and general health status of physically active students of the University of the Third Age (U3A).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate general health status of a group of older adults, physically active students of the University of the Third Age (U3A), based on results of biochemical analyses of blood, assessment of their physical activity (PA) level, body composition and cognitive function with respect to age and sex. METHODS: A total of 104 students (85 women and 19 men, aged 63.7±6.6 y) of the U3A's located in the Upper Silesia region of Poland volunteered to participate in this study. A habitual PA level and body composition were objectively assessed by using ActiGraph GT1M and InBody 720, respectively. Serum lipid profile and glucose metabolism markers were measured for assessment of cardiovascular disease risk factors. Moreover, subjects' cognitive functions were tested. RESULTS: Most of the study participants reached the daily step goal of 10,000 steps and thus fulfilled the ACSM recommendations for the quantity and quality of cardiorespiratory exercise. Highly negative correlations between the number of steps per day and body adiposity markers, serum insulin and HOMA-IR confirmed that vigorous physical activity at the recommended level was associated with better body composition and lower levels of risk markers of coronary heart disease and diabetes. Most of the U3A students were characterized by a favorable lipid profile, prevalence of normal blood pressure, low rates of HOMA-estimated insulin resistance and normal cognitive function. CONCLUSION: Adherence to ACSM recommendations is associated with beneficial changes in risk factors related to cardiovascular disease.

Hierarchy of physical education goals as an expression of educational priorities among Polish teachers / Hierarquia de educação física objetivos como uma expressão de prioridades educativas entre professores Poloneses

Abstract The work of teachers has to be purposeful and well thought out in order to achieve desired results. Both theory and practice show that achieving success is combined with the adequate setting of educational goals and organizing them in a specific hierarchy. The objective of this study was the diagnosis of preferences concerning the hierarchy of physical education goals. A questionnaire developed by the European Physical Education Association was used as the research tool. Teachers perceived the goal of 'encouraging students to lead an active, healthy lifestyle' as the most important consideration. Its realization should result in lifelong physical activity and healthy lifestyle among students. From the results of this study it can be concluded that the following priorities of Polish teachers of physical education can be identified: health and physical fitness of pupils. Goals connected with shaping the social competences of pupils ranked lowest in importance.

Resumo O trabalho dos professores tem de ser intencional e bem pensado, a fim de alcançar os resultados desejados. A teoria e a prática mostram que, para se alcançar o sucesso educativo, é necessária uma combinação adequada dos objetivos pedagógicos, os quais deverão ser organizados em uma hierarquia específica. Esta investigação procurou diagnosticar as preferências dos professores relativas à forma como os objetivos da Educação Física devem se organizar hierarquicamente. Foi utilizado um questionário desenvolvido pela Associação Europeia de Educação Física como ferramenta de pesquisa. Os professores indicaram que o objetivo de aprendizagem de "incentivar os alunos a levar um estilo de vida ativo e saudável" era o mais importante e que a sua realização deveria resultar da aprendizagem das atividades físicas em longo prazo. Pode-se concluir que, para os professores Poloneses, a saúde e aptidão física dos alunos são objetivos prioritários da educação física. Ficando menos valorizadas as metas ligadas ao desenvolvimento das competências sociais dos alunos.

Postmenopausal obesity: 12,500 steps per day as a remedy? Relationships between body composition and daily steps in postmenopausal women.

INTRODUCTION: To verify relationships between physical activity (steps per day) and obesity (components of body composition) among postmenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Physical activity (ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer; worn for 7 days) and obesity (body composition analyzer InBody 720) were assessed among 79 healthy postmenopausal women (age 63.25 ± 5.51 years; range: 51-81 years). In order to determine differences in body composition in women with different levels of physical activity, one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted, with age of participants as a covariate. RESULTS: Significant intergroup differences in almost all analyzed components of the body composition (weight, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, visceral fat area, body fat mass and percent of body fat) were obtained. Highly active women (≥ 12,500 steps/day) had lower weight and adiposity parameters than those that represented low (< 7,500 steps/day) or somewhat active (7,500-9,999 steps/day) groups. Besides, a noteworthy difference between active (10,000-12,499 steps/day) and low active women was recorded. Noticeably, only in the most active group was the BMI within normal ranges. CONCLUSIONS: The higher physical activity, the lower obesity in postmenopausal women. The recommended 10,000 steps/day seems insufficient for this age group. Based on the obtained results, postmenopausal women should walk at least 12,500 steps per day to improve their health.

Association between physical activity (PA) guidelines and body composition variables in middle-aged and older women.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between volume and frequency of moderate-intensity PA and step-based recommendations and individual body composition variables. Our cohort included 167 healthy ambulatory women (mean age 62.8 ± 4.8 years; body mass index [BMI] 27.3 ± 4.2 kg/m(2)) who carried out daily activities while wearing the ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer over a seven day period. Measurements of BMI, body fat mass index (BFMI), fat-free mass index (FFMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and visceral fat area (VFA) were obtained by the InBody 720 multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (MFBIA) device. The significant relationship (r(s)=0.66; p<0.05) was found between moderate PA and steps per day. Moderate PA (r(2)=0.03-0.06) and steps per day (r(2)=0.05-0.20) were significantly associated with observed body composition parameters. Women spending > 300 min/week in moderate PA showed significantly lower values of BFMI (p=0.02) than those who spent 150-300 min/week. Carrying out moderate PA for 30 min 5 days a week was significantly associated with lower BMI (p=0.04; η(2)=0.02), BFMI (p=0.02; η(2)=0.03) and VFA (p=0.03; η(2)=0.03). In addition, higher amounts of daily steps were significantly associated with lower BMI (p=0.00; η(2)=0.16), BFMI (p=0.00; η(2)=0.21), VFA (p=0.00; η(2)=0.20) and WHR (p=0.00; η(2)=0.13). A clear association was found between the generally recommended PA guidelines and body composition variables for the women examined in this study. However, the concept of 10,000 steps/day appears to be the strongest predictor of health-related body composition values.