We analyzed the discriminatory capacity of anthropometric indicators for body fat in children and adolescents. This systematic review and meta-analysis included cross-sectional and clinical studies comprising children and adolescents aged 2-19 y that tested the discriminatory value for body fat measured by anthropometric methods or indexes generated by anthropometric variables compared with precision methods in the diagnosis of body fat [dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), computed tomography, air displacement plethysmography (ADP), or MRI]. Five studies met the eligibility criteria and presented high methodologic quality. The anthropometric indicators that had high discriminatory power to identify high body fat were body mass index (BMI) in males [area under the curve (AUC): 0.975] and females (AUC: 0.947), waist circumference (WC) in males (AUC: 0.975) and females (AUC: 0.959), and the waist-to-height ratio (WTHR) in males (AUC: 0.897) and females (AUC: 0.914). BMI, WC, and WTHR can be used by health professionals to assess body fat in children and adolescents.

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The aim of this study was to assess the validity of traditional anthropometric equations and to develop predictive equations of total body and trunk fat for children and adolescents living with HIV based on anthropometric measurements. Forty-eight children and adolescents of both sexes (24 boys) aged 7-17 years, living in Santa Catarina, Brazil, participated in the study. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used as the reference method to evaluate total body and trunk fat. Height, body weight, circumferences and triceps, subscapular, abdominal and calf skinfolds were measured. The traditional equations of Lohman and Slaughter were used to estimate body fat. Multiple regression models were fitted to predict total body fat (Model 1) and trunk fat (Model 2) using a backward selection procedure. Model 1 had an R=0.85 and a standard error of the estimate of 1.43. Model 2 had an R=0.80 and standard error of the estimate=0.49. The traditional equations of Lohman and Slaughter showed poor performance in estimating body fat in children and adolescents living with HIV. The prediction models using anthropometry provided reliable estimates and can be used by clinicians and healthcare professionals to monitor total body and trunk fat in children and adolescents living with HIV.

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This study aimed to determine which of four selected physical fitness variables, would be most associated with blood pressure changes (systolic and diastolic) in a large sample of adolescents. This was a descriptive and cross-sectional, epidemiological study of 1,117 adolescents aged 14-19 years from southern Brazil. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured by a digital pressure device, and the selected physical fitness variables were body composition (body mass index), flexibility (sit-and-reach test), muscle strength/resistance (manual dynamometer), and aerobic fitness (Modified Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test). Simple and multiple linear regression analyses revealed that aerobic fitness and muscle strength/resistance best explained variations in systolic blood pressure for boys (17.3% and 7.4% of variance) and girls (7.4% of variance). Aerobic fitness, body composition, and muscle strength/resistance are all important indicators of blood pressure control, but aerobic fitness was a stronger predictor of systolic blood pressure in boys and of diastolic blood pressure in both sexes.

To verify the association between anthropometric indicators and body fat percentage (F %) estimated by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and air displacement plethysmography (ADP) in children and adolescents diagnosed with HIV. This cross-sectional study was carried out with 62 children and adolescents with HIV (8 to 15 years). F % was estimated by DXA and ADP. Anthropometric indicators were skinfolds (abdominal, triceps, subscapular, calf); perimeter relaxed arm (PRA), waist circumference (WC), perimeter neck (PN); body mass index (BMI); waist-to-height ratio (WHR); conicity index and body adiposity index. Linear regressions were performed with 5% significance level. In boys (R² adj = 0.38 to R² adj = 0.67) and girls (R² adj = 0.41 to R² adj = 0.57), all anthropometric indicators were associated with F% estimated by DXA. For boys, skinfolds were associated with F % estimated by ADP (R² adj = 0.18 to R² adj = 0.35). In girls, skinfolds (R² adj = 0.27 to R² adj = 0.44, BMI (R² adj = 0.31), PRA (R² adj = 0.36) and WC (R² adj = 0.26) were associated to F % by ADP. Abdominal skinfold was the indicator that most explained the variation in F % measured by DXA and ADP in both sexes. Anthropometric indicators are strongly associated with body fat, measured by reference methods, and can assist health professionals in monitoring the health of children and adolescents with HIV.

The present study aimed to identify and summarize evidence regarding muscle strength (MS) levels in school children and adolescents (≤ 19 years) in Brazil in order to update previously published evidence from the Report Card Brazil project. The systematic search for information was conducted in seven databases, restricted to studies published during the period from January 2018 to December 2019. Thirteen studies were included, which gathered information from 10,135 children and adolescents from seven Brazilian states. Different tests/protocols for assessing MS were identified, however, handgrip strength was the test most adopted in studies (53.8%). The prevalence of children and adolescents with MS levels considered healthy was 29.8%, considering the totality of information, and 27.6% for males and 31.8% for females. Considering full data reviewed by the Report Card Brazil project (data analyzed in this study in addition to those previously published), information regarding the assessment of MS levels in children and adolescents in Brazil came from studies conducted during the period from 2010 to 2019, which included a sample of 15,208 children and adolescents (aged 7-19 years). According to this information, the prevalence of children and adolescents with MS levels considered healthy in this period was 57.8%, 61.1% for males and 58.8% for females.

The aim of the study was to update Brazilian evidence on the prevalence of children and adolescents who met health criteria for aerobic fitness. This systematic review is part of the Report Card Brazil Project and the search was restricted to studies published during the period from January 2018 to December 2019 in nine electronic databases. Studies with different designs, which allowed extracting information about the prevalence of children and adolescents who met health criteria for aerobic fitness (age up to 19 years or average age up to 19 years) were included. Studies published from 2020 were not included due to the possible effect of the pandemic on this indicator and because there is no certainty as to when the pandemic will end. Of the 694 studies initially identified, 13 studies with information of 14,673 children and adolescents were included after reading titles, abstracts, full texts and references. The prevalence of children and adolescents who met health criteria for aerobic fitness was 26.9% (29.7% for girls; 44.6% for boys). In this search, eight different cutoff points were used to determine adequate aerobic fitness levels and five tests were used to determine aerobic fitness. Analyzing data from the present review with the previous systematic review of this project, one third of children and adolescents in Brazil meet health criteria for aerobic fitness.