The Role of Exercise: Physical Fitness Changes Caused by Hypocaloric Diet and Exercise in Men Who Are Overweight.

OBJECTIVE: There is evidence showing the effect of hypocaloric diet and increasing physical activity on weight loss. However, the effect of these factors on body composition and functional capacity remains unclear. Also, it is not clear which type of exercise (aerobic, resistance) has effective health benefits for men who are overweight. The aim of this study is to investigate whether a 12-week combined exercise or walking intervention combined with a hypocaloric diet provides improvements in body composition and functional capacity of men who are overweight compared to those who do not exercise. METHODS: 60 healthy adult men who are overweight were randomized and divided into 3 groups: 1: Hypocaloric Diet + Combined Exercise; 2: Hypocaloric Diet + Walking; 3: Hypocaloric Diet. The exercise groups were trained for 12 wk, 3 days a week and 60 min (60 min\3 days\12 wk). Body composition was determined with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) device, strength parameters with MicroFet 2, functional capacity with 6-min walking test. RESULTS: Improvement was observed in all groups at the end of 12 wk. The greatest improvement was in the combined exercise group. While the values of the combined exercise group increased in Skeletal Muscle Mass, there was a decline in the walking and non-exercising group. Basal Metabolism was maintained in combined exercise, but a decrease occurred in the non-exercising group. Muscle force increased in combined exercise; however, it was maintained in the legs in the walking group. Cardiorespiratory fitness was at best level in walking group, but there was no difference between combined exercise. CONCLUSIONS: As a result, a hypocaloric diet without an exercise prescription is sufficient to lose weight in the short term (12 wk) at a certain level. But exercise is more important for body composition, weight management and functional capacity. Long-term and in-depth studies should be conducted to interpret the results better.

Study on the relationship and related factors between physical fitness and health behavior of preschool children in southwest China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the physical fitness level and health behavior status of preschool children in China, explore the relationship between physical fitness and health behavior, and further reveal the main factors affecting health behavior, to provide a reference for improving the physical fitness level of preschool children and maintaining healthy behavior. METHODS: A total of 755 preschool children (394 boys and 361 girls, aged 4.52 ± 1.11 years) were selected from Chongqing and Liupanshui in China by cluster random sampling method for questionnaire survey and physical monitoring, and SPSS21.0 software was used to process and analyze the data. RESULTS: (1) Heart rate (p = 0.015), protein content (p < 0.001), and time spent on the balance beam (p < 0.001) were significantly lower in boys than in girls, while BMI (p = 0.012), muscle mass (p < 0.001), and distance of standing long jump (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in boys than in girls. Meanwhile, systolic blood pressure (p = 0.004) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.001) of rural children were significantly higher than those of urban children, while BMI (p < 0.001) and sitting forward flexion (p = 0.019) were significantly lower than those of urban children. (2) The light-intensity physical activity (LPA) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) of boys were significantly higher than that of girls (p < 0.001), and the MVPA of urban children was significantly higher than that of rural children (p = 0.001), and the former participated in sports classes more frequently (p < 0.001). (3) There was a significant correlation between physical activity (PA) and physical fitness indicators of preschoolers. Participating in sports interest classes was only significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure (r = 0.08) and sitting forward flexion (r = 0.09). (4) The PA level of preschool children was related to gender, household registration, kindergarten nature, age, residence environment, parental support, and participation degree. Participation in sports interest classes was related to gender, the nature of the kindergarten, household registration, age, and parent participation. Daily screen time was related to household registration, the nature of the kindergarten, the environment of residence, and the value perception of parents. CONCLUSIONS: There were different degrees of correlation between preschool children's physical fitness and health behaviors, and children's health behaviors were closely related to gender, environment, parents, and other factors. Therefore, how to increase the protective factors of children's health behaviors and controlling the risk factors may be crucial to promoting the development of good health behaviors and improving the physical fitness of preschool children.

We like to move it - patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders are impaired in estimating their physical fitness levels and benefit from individualized exercise.

BACKGROUND: People with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) engage less in physical activity than healthy individuals. The impact of subjectively assessed physical fitness levels on motivation for sports engagement and its relation to objective fitness parameters in SSD is unclear. METHODS: 25 patients with SSD (P-SSD) and 24 healthy controls (H-CON) participated in a randomized controlled study. Individual anaerobic thresholds (AT) were determined by an incremental exercise test and on separate days, aerobic exercise (cycling at 80% of workload at AT) and non-exercise control (sitting on an ergometer without cycling) sessions were performed. Demographic, clinical and objective physical fitness data (i.e., weekly physical activity, workload at AT, heart rate) were collected. Subjective physical fitness parameters were assessed before and after exercise and control sessions. RESULTS: Weekly physical activity in P-SSD was lower than in H-CON (p < 0.05) attributed to reduced engagement in sport activities (p < 0.001). Workload and percentage of predicted maximal heart rate at AT were also reduced in P-SSD compared to H-CON (both p < 0.05). Although objective and subjective physical fitness parameters were related in H-CON (p < 0.01), this relationship was absent in P-SSD. However, during exercise sessions subjective physical fitness ratings increased to a stronger extent in P-SSD than H-CON (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The missing relationship between subjective and objective physical fitness parameters in people with SSD may represent a barrier for stronger engagement in physical activity. Accordingly, supervised exercise interventions with individually adjusted workload intensity may support realistic subjective fitness estimations and enhance motivation for sports activity in individuals with SSD.

Physical fitness is an independent predictor of chronic kidney disease development in apparently healthy individuals.

BACKGROUND: The cardiovascular and metabolic benefits of physical activity have been studied at length, however, data on the association between physical fitness and progression to kidney disease is lacking. We aimed to identify the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among the healthy population. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 11,579 healthy self-referred subjects who underwent annual medical screening. All subjects had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) above 60 ml/min/1.73 m2, no known kidney disease, hematuria or proteinuria, and were free of diabetes or cardiovascular disease at baseline. All participants completed a maximal exercise test, and were categorized into low and high cardiorespiratory fitness groups based on age- and gender-specific quintiles. The primary end point was the development of significant CKD defined as eGFR below 45 ml/min/1.73 m2 during follow-up. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 7.6 years, and the participants' median age was 50 ± 8 years. Baseline creatinine and eGFR were 1.02 mg/dl and 81 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively. During follow-up, 81 (0.6%) participants developed CKD, and the cumulative probability was significantly higher among the low fitness group (HR = 2.41, p = 0.001). The effect of physical fitness on the risk to develop CKD remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, baseline creatinine and other cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSION: Cardiorespiratory fitness is an independent risk factor inversely associated with development of CKD.

A 10-week play-based after-school program to improve coordinative abilities and physical fitness capabilities among adolescents: a randomized trial.

The average levels of physical activity in children are below the ideal, which may influence children's health and motor competence levels. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of a 10-week play-based after-school program on 50 twelve-year-old students' anthropometric characteristics (body height and body weight), coordinative abilities (flamingo balance test and T-test agility), and physical fitness (sit and reach, 20-m sprint test, SLJ, CMJ, and handgrip). After baseline assessments, the students were randomly divided into two groups: one participating in a play-based after-school program (experimental group) and the other attending regular PE classes (control group). No differences were noted between the sexes. Analysis revealed baseline differences between groups in body weight, agility T-test, and right-handgrip, with no significant sex differences. Following the intervention, the experimental group demonstrated improvements in the 20-m sprint test (F(1,46) = 11.03, p < 0.01), flamingo balance test (F(1,46) = 9.16, p = 0.004), SLJ (F(1,46) = 5.30, p = 0.03), agility T-test (F(1,46) = 28.30, p < 0.01), and right-handgrip (F(1,46) = 6.59, p < 0.01). In summary, the results suggested that a 10-week play-based after-school program enhances coordinative abilities and physical fitness in 12-year-old children. This underscores the potential advantages of integrating play-based physical activities into schools to promote holistic health and fitness in children.

Phase angle and its determinants among adolescents: influence of body composition and physical fitness level.

To examine the association between levels of physical fitness, parameters of body composition and phase angle (PhA) amongst adolescents. A total of 152 adolescents (84 girls) aged 11-16 years were included in this study. Weight and height were measured and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) provided resistance and reactance parameters to calculate fat-free mass (FFM), PhA and fat mass (%FM). The following physical fitness variables were analysed: flexibility, abdominal muscular endurance, upper and lower limb explosive strength, agility, speed and cardiorespiratory fitness. Generalized Linear Models were applied to verify differences across sexes. Stepwise linear regression was used to establish an association between the variables studied. The study established an association between PhA and weight, FFM, BMI, FM, %FM and medicine ball throw (MBT) for girls. As for the boys, an association was verified between PhA and weight, FFM, BMI, standing long jump (SLJ), MBT and the three allometric VO2peak variables analyzed. An association was found between PhA and the boys' 4-m shuttle run test (4SRT) and 20-m sprint test (20SRT). Boys showed a greater phase angle than girls; In girls, BMI and %FM, were determinant of 32.4% (r = 0.57). PhA variability which is influenced by physical fitness, body composition and, therefore, the tissues electrical conductivity. Furthermore, boys' height, FFM, upper limb strength, and agility account for 58.4% (r = 0.76) PhA variability. There was a positive correlation between the physical fitness tests and the PhA.

Impact of aging on maximal oxygen uptake in female runners and sedentary controls.

The present study aimed to compare V̇O2max (absolute, adjusted to total body mass, and adjusted to lean mass) in recreational runners and sedentary women < and > 50 yr and verify the effect of aging and physical activity level on the three types of V̇O2 max expression. The study included 147 women:85 runners (45.7 ± 14.1 yr) and 62 sedentary controls (48.8 ± 9.8 yr). They were subjected to cardiopulmonary exercise testing for V̇O2 max measurement and a body composition test by dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry system. V̇O2max were expressed as absolute values (L/min), relative to total body mass values (mL/kg/min), and relative to lean mass values (mL/kgLM/min). The two-way analysis of variance revealed a significant interaction [F(2,131) = 4.43, p < 0.001] and effects of age group [F(2,131) = 32.79, p < 0.001] and physical activity group [F(2,131) = 55.64, p < 0.001] on V̇O2max (mL/min). V̇O2max (mL/kg/min) and V̇O2 max (mL/kgLM/min) were significantly influenced by age and physical activity levels. The multiple regression model explains 76.2 % of the dependent variable V̇O2max (mL/kg/min), age (ß = -0.335, t = -7.841, p < 0.001), and physical activity group (ß = -0.784, t = -18.351, p < 0.001). In conclusion, female runners had higher V̇O2 max values than sedentary women at all ages, even though aging has a greater impact on V̇O2 max in the runners group. In addition to cardiorespiratory fitness, women's metabolic lean mass function, as measured by V̇O2max adjusted by lean mass, is significantly influenced by aging. Finally, physical activity has a greater impact on V̇O2 max levels than aging.

Effects of different types of exercise intensity on improving health-related physical fitness in children and adolescents: a systematic review.

A substantial body of empirical evidence reveals that physical activity is associated with a wide range of positive physical and mental health outcomes. However, an absence of comprehensive syntheses is observed concerning the varying effects of different exercise intensities on the improvement of physical health among children and adolescents. The aim of this review is to systematically investigate the effects of different exercise intensities on the physical fitness of children and adolescents, to analyses the optimal exercise intensities for improving physical fitness, and to provide a relevant theoretical basis for optimizing school physical education curricula. A systematic search strategy was used in this study in four online databases (PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO and Web of Science). Intervention studies that met the inclusion criteria underwent a thorough screening process, and their methodological quality was assessed utilizing the PEDro scale. The selected literature was systematically analyzed and evaluated through induction, summary, analysis, and evaluation. These findings indicate that high-intensity exercise training exerts significant positive effects on body composition, cardiopulmonary function and muscle fitness in children and adolescents. Therefore, we suggest that schools should focus on high-intensity sports in their physical education curriculum, which can further improve the student's PHYSICAL FITNESS.

Active use of local exercise facilities can improve physical performance of community-dwelling older adults.

[Purpose] In this study, we investigated the effects of local exercise facility use on physical function of Japanese community-dwelling older adults. [Participants and Methods] We analyzed data obtained from a cohort project initiated in 1991. The study included approximately 4,800 individuals from suburban areas of central Japan; we investigated 322 older individuals residing in Municipality A, who underwent physical fitness assessments in 2018 and 2019. We recorded participants' exercise facility use frequency and physical performance, based on handgrip strength, open-eye single-leg standing, timed up-and-go, and walking speed tests. [Results] Baseline values in the open-eye single-leg standing test were significantly higher in the no-use than in the low- and high-use groups. Follow-up assessments revealed that grip strength was significantly higher in the high-use than in the no- and low-use groups. [Conclusion] Active use of exercise facilities was positively correlated with maintenance and improvement in physical fitness among participants, which highlights the benefits of easily accessible exercise facilities in maintaining long-term physical function. Future studies should focus on functions that extend beyond physical fitness to develop effective support programs that address the evolving health needs of the aging population.

Relationships between moderate vigorous physical activity, motor- and health-related fitness and motor skills in children.

BACKGROUND:  Childhood is an important transitional period for the development of healthy physical activity (PA) behaviours, so it is important to understand its impact on a healthy lifestyle. AIM:  This study aimed to determine the influences of sex, socioeconomic status (SES) and body composition (BC) on the relationships between PA, motor skills, motor- and health-related physical fitness in 5-8-year-olds. SETTING:  Participants were a subsample consisting of 299 children (150 boys, 149 girls, mean age 6.83 ± 0.96 years) from the Exercise, Arterial Modulation and Nutrition in Youth South Africa study (ExAMIN Youth SA). METHODS:  Anthropometric measures, health-related physical fitness (HRPF), motor-related physical fitness (MRPF), objectively measured PA and demographic information were determined. RESULTS:  Only 66% achieved the recommended 60 min of daily moderate vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with 19% classified as having unhealthy body composition (11% overweight, 8% obese). Fat-free mass and SES revealed small-to-moderate influences on the relationship between MVPA, standing broad jump (SBJ; r = 0.32), predicted VO2max (r = 0.28) and beep levels (r = 0.22). For MRPF, the quality of running (r = 0.12) and balancing were associated with MVPA. Adjusting for sex, BC and SES in the relationship between PA with HRPF and MRPF, reductions in most correlations were observed. CONCLUSION:  Moderate vigorous physical activity levels were positively associated with HRPF, MRPF and some motor skills in 5-8-year-olds. Socioeconomic status (lower parental income, employment and education negatively influenced the association between MVPA and fitness [beeps, SBJ, O2max]).Contribution: This study provides knowledge with regard to the use of accelerometer for baseline data for PA, MRPF, HRPF as well as motor skills in South African children.

Jump performance and movement quality in 7- to 15-year-old competitive alpine skiers: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Injury rates in competitive alpine skiing are high. With current methods, identifying people at risk is expensive and thus often not feasible at the youth level. The aims of this study were (1) to describe the jump performance and movement quality of youth competitive alpine skiers according to age and sex, (2) to compare the jump distance among skiers of different sexes and movement quality grades, and (3) to assess the inter-rater grading reliability of the qualitative visual movement quality classification of such jumps and the agreement between live and video-based post-exercise grading. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study is based on an anonymized dataset of 301 7- to 15-year-old competitive alpine skiers. The skiers performed two-legged forward triple jumps, whereby the jump distance was measured, and grades were assigned by experienced raters from the frontal and sagittal perspectives depending on the execution quality of the jumps. Furthermore, jumps were filmed and ultimately rated post-exercise. Differences in jump distance between various groups were assessed by multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs). Reliability was determined using Kendall's coefficient of concordance. RESULTS: The jump distance was significantly greater in U16 skiers than in U11 skiers of both sexes and in skiers with good execution quality than in those with reduced or poor execution quality. Overall, jump distance in U16 skiers significantly differed between female (5.37 m with 95% CI [5.21, 5.53]) and male skiers (5.90 m with 95%CI [5.69, 6.10]). Slightly better inter-rater grading reliability was observed for video-based post-exercise (strong agreement) ratings than for live ratings (moderate agreement). CONCLUSION: In competitive alpine skiers aged 7 to 15 years, jump performance increases with age, and around puberty, sex differences start to manifest. Our results highlight the importance of evaluating both jump distance and movement quality in youth skiers. To improve test-retest reliability, however, a video-based post-exercise evaluation is recommended.

In youth competitive alpine skiers, jump performance and movement quality matter, and both should be trained and tested.A qualitative assessment of movement quality while jumping by experts is a highly scalable and cost-effective approach; however, to ensure sufficient test-retest reliability, the assessment criteria need to be standardised and an additional video-based post-exercise assessment is recommended.

Anthropometric Influence on Preschool Children's Physical Fitness and Motor Skills: A Systematic Review.

Early childhood is a critical period for physical and motor development with implications for long-term health. This systematic review examined the relationship between anthropometric characteristics and measures of physical fitness and motor skills in preschool-aged children (typically 2-6 years). The search strategy was applied in four databases (PubMed, ProQuest Central, Scopus, and Web of Science) to find articles published before 11 April 2024. The results consistently demonstrated significant associations between anthropometric variables (height, weight, body mass index [BMI], body composition) and physical performance measures. Notably, height and mass were often better predictors of fitness status than BMI alone. Indicators of undernutrition (stunting, wasting) were negatively associated with motor development, emphasizing the importance of adequate nutrition. While some studies reported impaired fitness and motor skills among overweight/obese preschoolers compared to normal-weight peers, others found no differences based on weight status. Relationships between physical activity levels, anthropometrics, and motor outcomes were complex and inconsistent across studies. This review highlights key findings regarding the influence of anthropometric factors on physical capabilities in early childhood. Early identification of children with impaired growth or excessive adiposity may inform tailored interventions to promote optimal motor development and prevent issues like obesity. Creating supportive environments for healthy growth and age-appropriate physical activity opportunities is crucial during this critical developmental window.

A 3-Month Modified Basketball Exercise Program as a Health-Enhancing Sport Activity for Middle-Aged Individuals.

Recreational team sports have received great acceptance lately, in different populations, indicating encouraging results in health-related quality of life. This study examined the efficacy of a 3-month basketball exercise program on selected indices of health (body mass-BM, body fat-BF, blood pressure-BP), functional capacity (flexibility of lower and upper limbs, balance), and physical fitness (maximum strength of lower limbs, trunk and handgrip, aerobic capacity) in middle-aged individuals. Forty middle-aged individuals (males and females; 40-55 years old) were randomly divided into (a) exercise (EG; n = 20) and (b) control groups (CG; n = 20). The EG followed a 3-month modified basketball exercise program (2 times/week; 24 training units), including different basketball drills with and without the ball (dribbling, passing, pivot, stops, etc.), to improve participants' health and physical fitness. Repeated measures ANOVA showed that the EG significantly increased their flexibility (17.23-74.88%; p < 0.001), static balance (44.76-54.69%; p < 0.001), and strength of lower limbs and trunk (11.67-13.13%; p < 0.001), while reducing BP (7.31-12%; p < 0.001), heart rate and RPE (5.30-34.37%; p < 0.001), and time during time-up-and-go test (-10.91%; p < 0.001). Handgrip strength, BM, and BF did not change following the program in the EG (p > 0.05). In the CG, the above variables remained stable. In conclusion, this program may be used to eliminate the detrimental effects of aging on health, functional capacity, and physical fitness parameters.

Changes in Muscle Mass and Strength in Adolescents Following High-Intensity Functional Training with Bodyweight Resistance Exercises in Physical Education Lessons.

(1) Background: The growing prevalence of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and declining physical fitness among children and adolescents due to sedentary lifestyles has increased attention toward preventive intervention to tackle this issue. This study investigated the age-related effects of high-intensity functional training (HIFT), based on bodyweight resistance exercises conducted during physical education lessons, on muscle mass and strength improvement. (2) Methods: Adolescent males (n = 116) were allocated to four HIFT experimental groups (EGs) and four standard physical education program control groups (CGs) according to age (15, 16, 17, and 18 years [y]). The changes in muscle mass (absolute and relative to height [SMI]), hand-grip strength (HGS), sit-ups (SUs), and standing broad jump (SBJ) were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni tests. (3) Results: HIFT significantly increased muscle mass and scores in all strength tests (p < 0.01), while chronological age was significant for HGS (p < 0.01). Interactions between HIFT and chronological age categories were observed for HGS (p = 0.01) and SBJ (p < 0.03). Detailed post hoc tests revealed improvement in muscle mass across all chronological age categories for both approaches (p < 0.05). The 18y-EG group improved HGS over their control peers (p < 0.01), the EG groups significantly improved their SU results (p < 0.01), and SBJ improved in the 15y-EG and 18y-EG groups compared to their control (p < 0.01). (4) Conclusions: This research highlights the effectiveness of a school-based HIFT program in promoting muscle mass gains and enhancing muscle strength among adolescents. The findings offer valuable insights for implementing bodyweight exercises during physical education classes.

Physical Fitness Is Directly Related to Exercise Capacity and Ventilatory Response to Exercise in Men with HFrEF.

Background: Heart failure (HF) patients experience reduced functional fitness level (determining the performance of routine, daily activities) and diminished exercise capacity (linked to more effortful activities). Aim: The aim of the study is to assess this relationship using functional fitness tests compared to peak VO2 and VE/VCO2 slope in the context of exercise capacity and ventilatory response to exercise. Methods: A total of 382 men with stable HFrEF (age: 61 ± 10, NYHA class I/II/III/IV: 16/50/32/2%, LVEF: 30.5 ± 8.3%) underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) and a Senior Fitness Test (SFT). Afterwards, the patients were divided according to the 2capacity with peak VO2 ≥ 18 mL/kg/min, those with higher or lower ventilatory responses (VE/VCO2 slope ≥ 35 vs. <35) to the exercise were compared. Results: Patients who covered shorter distances in the 6 min walking test showed worse results in the functional tests ('stand up and go', 'chair stand' and 'arm curl') and CPX (lower peak VO2, shorter exercise time and higher VE/VCO2 slope). Subjects classified into Class D demonstrated the worst results in all elements of SFT; those in Class A demonstrated the best results. Significant differences that were analogous occurred also between classes B and C. Among the participants who reached peak VO2 ≥ 18 mL/kg/min (n = 170), those with VE/VCO2 slope ≥ 35 were characterized by worse physical fitness as compared to those with VE/VCO2 < 35. Conclusion: Reduced exercise tolerance led to worsening physical function in patients with HFrEF. Moreover, limitations in physical fitness seem to be distinctive for those patients showing excessive ventilatory response to exercise slope VE/VCO2 (≥35). The Senior Fitness Test may be considered as a useful tool for assessing comprehensive functional and clinical status and risk stratification in patients with HFrEF, especially those with extremely low exercise capacity.

A Novel Summer Camp Integrating Physical, Psychological, and Educational Health in Youth: The THINK Program.

Numerous youth summer programs focus upon physical fitness, nutritional health, psychological well-being, or education. Few, however, have integrated all of these elements into a single program. The Translational Health in Nutrition and Kinesiology (THINK) program provides an integrative nutrition and exercise science curriculum that is interfaced with social emotional learning (SEL) and STEM education to enhance healthy behaviors in youth. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the THINK program could improve physical fitness, nutrition habits, SEL, and STEM education in a 6-week summer program covering a 3-year period. Participants from South Miami were enrolled in THINK (n = 108, 58 males, 50 females, 12.03 + 0.56 years). Physical fitness assessments, the Positive Youth Development Inventory (PYDI), the Students' Attitude Towards STEM Survey, and the Adolescent Food Habits Checklist (ADFH) were recorded at baseline and post-testing. Means and standard error values were evaluated for all dependent variables. Paired samples t-tests (SPSS version 27) were used to determine changes. Improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.001), power (p < 0.006), flexibility (p < 0.001), agility (p < 0.001), muscular endurance (p < 0.001), lean body mass (p < 0.001), ADFH (p < 0.001), and PYDI (p = 0.038) were found. An integrative summer fitness program can result in improvements in physical fitness, nutrition habits, and SEL in as little as six weeks.

Adherence to 24-Hour Movement Guidelines Among Chinese Older Adults: Prevalence, Correlates, and Associations With Physical and Mental Health Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: It is known that 24-hour movement behaviors, including physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep, are crucial components affecting older adults' health. Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines for older adults were launched in 2020, emphasizing the combined role of these 3 movement behaviors in promoting older adults' health. However, research on the prevalence and correlates of guideline adherence and its associations with health-related outcomes is limited, especially among Chinese older adults. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and correlates of meeting 24-hour movement guidelines among Chinese older adults. Furthermore, this study aimed to examine the associations of guideline adherence with older adults' physical and mental health outcomes. METHODS: Using a stratified cluster random sampling approach, a total of 4562 older adults (mean age 67.68 years, SD 5.03 years; female proportion: 2544/4562, 55.8%) were recruited from the latest provincial health surveillance of Hubei China from July 25 to November 19, 2020. Measures included demographics, movement behaviors (PA, SB, and sleep), BMI, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio (WHR), percentage body fat (PBF), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, physical fitness, depressive symptoms, and loneliness. Generalized linear mixed models were employed to examine the associations between variables using SPSS 28.0 (IBM Corp). RESULTS: Only 1.8% (83/4562) of participants met all 3 movement guidelines, while 32.1% (1466/4562), 3.4% (155/4562), and 66.4% (3031/4562) met the individual behavioral guidelines for PA, SB, and sleep, respectively. Participants who were older, were female, and lived in municipalities with lower economic levels were less likely to meet all 3 movement guidelines. Adhering to individual or combined movement guidelines was associated with greater physical fitness and lower values of BMI, waist circumference, WHR, PBF, depressive symptoms, and loneliness, with the exception of the relationship of SB+sleep guidelines with loneliness. Furthermore, only meeting SB guidelines or meeting both PA and SB guidelines was associated with lower systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to investigate adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines among Chinese older adults with regard to prevalence, correlates, and associations with physical and mental health outcomes. The findings emphasize the urgent need for promoting healthy movement behaviors among Chinese older adults. Future interventions to improve older adults' physical and mental health should involve enhancing their overall movement behaviors and should consider demographic differences.

Neural network model for prediction of possible sarcopenic obesity using Korean national fitness award data (2010-2023).

Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is characterized by concomitant sarcopenia and obesity and presents a high risk of disability, morbidity, and mortality among older adults. However, predictions based on sequential neural network SO studies and the relationship between physical fitness factors and SO are lacking. This study aimed to develop a predictive model for SO in older adults by focusing on physical fitness factors. A comprehensive dataset of older Korean adults participating in national fitness programs was analyzed using sequential neural networks. Appendicular skeletal muscle/body weight was defined as SO using an anthropometric equation. Independent variables included body fat (BF, %), waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and various physical fitness factors. The dependent variable was a binary outcome (possible SO vs normal). We analyzed hyperparameter tuning and stratified K-fold validation to optimize a predictive model. The prevalence of SO was significantly higher in women (13.81%) than in men, highlighting sex-specific differences. The optimized neural network model and Shapley Additive Explanations analysis demonstrated a high validation accuracy of 93.1%, with BF% and absolute grip strength emerging as the most influential predictors of SO. This study presents a highly accurate predictive model for SO in older adults, emphasizing the critical roles of BF% and absolute grip strength. We identified BF, absolute grip strength, and sit-and-reach as key SO predictors. Our findings underscore the sex-specific nature of SO and the importance of physical fitness factors in its prediction.

Associations between fundamental movement skills and accelerometer-measured physical activity in Chinese children: the mediating role of cardiorespiratory fitness.

Background and purpose: The associations of fundamental motor skills (FMS), health-related physical fitness (e.g., cardiorespiratory fitness, CRF), and moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) have been demonstrated in Western children, but these associations have not yet been validated in a sample of Chinese children. The aims of this study, therefore, were to examine the association between FMS subdomains and MVPA in a sample of Chinese children and to evaluate whether this association is mediated by CRF. Methods: A cross-sectional study consisting of 311 children aged 8-12 years (49.2% girls; mean age = 9.9 years) from Shanghai was conducted. FMS, CRF and MVPA were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3rd Edition, Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run and ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers. Preacher & Hayes's bootstrap method was used to test the mediating effects of CRF on the association between FMS and MVPA. Results: CRF fully mediated the association between total FMS and MVPA in girls (indirect effects, b = 0.21, 95% CI [0.07-0.37]), while the mediation was only partial in boys (indirect effects, b = 0.12, 95% CI [0.01-0.26]). CRF fully mediated the association between locomotor skills and MVPA in girls (indirect effects, b = 0.27, 95% CI [0.09- 0.51]), whereas CRF partially mediated the association between object control skills and MVPA in boys (indirect effects, b = 0.15, 95% CI [0.18-0.35]). Conclusion: In order to better design and implement sex-specific interventions aiming to increase MVPA, it is essential to consider FMS subdomains and CRF alongside the sex differences in the association between them.

School-Age Talent Identification in Female Handball by a Mathematical Model: Equation Proposed from Anthropometry, Maturity Offset, Fitness and Technical Field-Tests.

The present study aimed to identify parameters that best discriminate between high-level and scholar-level players for the Brazilian 13-14-year-old girl's handball and propose a mathematical model to identify sports talent for handball. The sample was made up of all available handball players comprising these two groups: 100 girls who participated in the high-level handball championship in Brazil and 53 girls (age 13-14 years) as finalists of the school-level games in one region of Brazil. We assess the anthropometric profile, maturity offset, physical fitness, and technical skills for handball. To propose the equation, the Discriminant Function Analysis method was used. The discriminant function was significant (p ≤ .05), had a good canonical correlation (0.590), and still had an average Wilk Lambda (0.652). The variables considered in the talent identification model included: 1. flexibility, 2. abdominal strength, 3. lower limbs muscle power, 4. agility, 5. defensive movement and 6. slalom with ball. The values from the equation for identifying school-age athletes with high motor skills and performance for handball can be classified by a cutoff point (Y = 0.192). The results showed that the mathematical-model obtained was able to select school-age athletes with high motor skills for handball, and with the profile for participation in high-level championships.