Chemerin is an adipokine that may mediate the link between obesity, inflammation, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we examined the association between chemerin and various cardiometabolic risk factors in cross-sectional setting and tested the hypothesis that a 6-month combined exercise program decreases serum chemerin in overweight or obese, non-diabetic individuals. Serum chemerin concentration was measured in a cross-sectional analysis including 98 individuals with a wide range of age and body mass index (BMI). In addition, chemerin was measured in 79 sedentary, overweight or obese, non-diabetic individuals who completed a 6-month combined endurance and resistance exercise program (CEP, n = 51) or served as controls (C, n = 28). Chemerin was significantly associated with total cholesterol (p = 0.04), triglycerides (p < 0.001), fasting insulin (p < 0.001), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (p = 0.04), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (p = 0.03), leucocytes count (p = 0.047), and leptin (p = 0.008) independently of age and BMI. In multiple regression analysis, chemerin was an independent determinant of HOMA-IR. As a result of the 6-month training program, serum chemerin decreased significantly in CEP group (-13.8 ± 13.2 ng/ml, p < 0.001). A significant association between the changes in chemerin and improved HOMA-IR were found even after adjustment for changes in waist circumference. Among non-diabetic individuals serum chemerin was associated with various cardiometabolic risk factors independently of BMI. In addition, the 6-month combined strength and endurance training program led to a significant reduction in circulating chemerin levels in overweight or obese individuals.

SUMMARYObjective: We examined the effect of a 6-month combined aerobic and resistance training programme on cardiometabolic risk factors in nondiabetic subjects and compared its effectiveness when executed under strict professional supervision or without direct supervision.Methods: Eighty-five sedentary, non-diabetic subjects (27 men and 58 women), mean age 47.5±0.6 years, mean body mass index (BMI, 33.8±0.6 kg/m 2 ) participated in a combined exercise programme assigned to supervised (S, n=31), non-supervised (NS, n=24) or control group (C, n=30). Cardiometabolic risk parameters were assessed at baseline and after the 6-month training.Results: In both the S and NS group there was a significant decrease in BMI (−1.6±0.3, p<0.001 and −1.0±0.3 kg/m 2 , p=0.004), waist circumference (−10.1±1.1 cm, p<0.001 and −7.8±0.8 cm, p<0.001), fat mass (−1.8±0.4%, p<0.001 and −2.1±0.6%, p=0.003), and a significant increase in fat-free mass (+1.7±0.4%, p<0.001 and +2.0±0.7%, p=0.008), and aerobic capacity (+6.9±1.1, p<0.001 and +6.9±0.8 ml/kg per min, p=0.008). Fasting glucose did not change in S and NS, but increased in C (p=0.048). In the S group a significant decrease in fasting insulin (p<0.001), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (p<0.001), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (p=0.004), leucocytes count (p=0.04), systolic high (p<0.001) and diastolic (p=0.009) blood pressure was found. Comparable significant decreases in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were observed in all study groups.Conclusions: A 6-month combined exercise programme led to substantial improvement of various cardiometabolic risk factors. This programme was effective even when executed without direct supervision, although the effects were more pronounced in the supervised group. Our findings suggest that non-supervised exercise programmes may be a valuable, cost-effective tool to translate the current physical activity guidelines in a real-life setting.

We found a strong inverse relationship between the level of PA during leisure time (including sport), BMI, and the prevalence of T2DM. Uncontrolled eating behaviour was also found to have a significant effect on BMI.

The health-related physical fitness of children, alongside overweight and obesity rates, have been shown to be of great interest amongst physical education teachers, sports coaches, scientists, and health practitioners. Physical fitness is a major factor, which can predict the health status in the later phases of children lives. The aim of this study was to assess the health-related physical fitness levels in primary school children, in addition to providing estimates for overweight and obesity for children at this age. This study consisted of 118 primary school children (64 girls and 54 boys from Sofia, Bulgaria) between the ages of 7 and 11. The participants completed the Alpha-Fit health-related physical fitness test battery, which included anthropometric measurements and different tests (handgrip strength, standing long jump, 4x10m shuttle run test, and 20m multistage fitness test). The mean percentile scores of height, weight and BMI in all participants were within the WHO norms. However, the individual BMI assessment showed that 20.3% of all primary school children were 'overweight' (BMI > 85th percentile), 8.5% were 'obese' (BMI > 97th percentile), and 13.5% were assessed as 'thin' (BMI < 15th percentile). The results of this study showed that lower levels of physical fitness are associated with overweight and obesity in primary school children.