BackgroundSufficient daily physical activity (PA) is necessary for physical, social and mental health benefits during growth. Most of the available data on children is based on subjective reports, while only limited data on objective PA and sedentary levels is available for primary school children. Increased PA is also an important health indicator of body composition parameters, especially body adiposity indices. The aim of the present study was to determine objectively the amount of daily PA levels at different intensities and sedentary time in normal-weight (NW) and overweight (OW) 7–9-year-old boys and girls, and to find associations between objectively measured PA levels and sedentary time with different body composition values.MethodsTwo hundred and seventy eight (142 boys and 136 girls) primary school children aged 7.9 ± 0.7 years participated in this study. Objective PA intensity and sedentary levels were measured over 7 days by accelerometry. Indices of total fat mass (body fat %, sum of skinfolds), fat distribution (waist-to-height ratio) and muscular component (fat free mass [FFM]) were calculated from measured anthropometric parameters.ResultsThere were no differences (p > 0.05) in PA intensity levels and sedentary time between boys and girls as well as between NW and OW children. About 11 % of children met the current guidelines of at least 60 min per day of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Sedentary time was positively and negatively associated (p < 0.05) with all body fat and FFM values, respectively. Moderate and vigorous PA along with MVPA were negatively and positively associated (p < 0.05) with all body fat and FFM indices, respectively.ConclusionsThe results of present study showed that about 11 % of primary school children were engaged in PA of at least 60 min of MVPA daily. While MVPA is negatively associated with fat mass indices and positively associated with FFM regardless of different confounders, sedentary time is negatively related to FFM and positively with fat mass values after adjusting for several confounders. These results suggest that higher MVPA level and lower sedentary time level are important in maintaining and developing healthy body composition in primary school children during growth.

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Although MVPA in PE was relatively low and SED high, PE significantly increased daily MVPA and reduced SED, confirming the important role of PE in supporting the healthy development of children.

The purpose of this study was to find the composition shift of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms in overtraining in fast- and slow-twitch skeletal muscles and different changes in MyHC isofom composition, synthesis and turnover rate between 4-week and 6-week overtraining. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 4-week and 6-week endurance training, 4-week and 6-week overtraining groups. Plantaris (Pla), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and soleus (Sol) muscles were studied. Daily excretion of 3-methylhistidine (3-MeHis) pool as an indicator for protein degradation increased in the 4-week and 6-week overtraining group to 4.04 +/- 0.21 and 4.32 +/- 0.23 %/day subsequently in comparison with the control group (2.16 +/- 14 %/day, p < 0.001). In Pla muscle MyHC I isoform synthesis rate was 33 200 +/- 2150 (after 6-week overtraining 27 100 +/- 1800, p < 0.05), IIa 32 600 +/- 2100; IId 27 300 +/- 1890 and IIb isoform 20 100 +/- 1600 (after 6-week overtraining 15 500 +/- 1400, p < 0.05) dpm/M leucine/min. Actin synthesis rate increased in fast-twitch muscles during 4- and 6-week overtraining, and in soleus muscle during 6-week overtraining. In EDL and Sol muscle MyHC isoform composition during 6-week overtraining did not change significantly. During the 6-week overtraining the relative content of MyHC I and IIb isoforms decreased and IIa and IId isoforms increased in Pla muscle. The initial increase of MyHC IIb isoform after 4-week overtraining shows the higher stability of this isoform in comparison with MyHC I isoform in fast-twitch muscles during high volume exercise.

Background The aim of this study was to investigate physical fitness and physical activity (PA) of 6-7-year-old children just before entering school according to their sports club (SC) participation and weight status, and to examine possible associations of their body mass index, fat mass and fat-free mass with physical fitness and PA. Methods A total of 256 preschoolers aged 6 to 7 years participated in the study. Physical fitness was assessed using PREFIT test battery and objective PA by 7 day accelerometry. Body composition was estimated using two skinfold thickness parameters. SC participation and parental data were assessed by questionnaires. Results Children participating in SC had higher moderate-to-vigorous PA, vigorous PA and cardiorespiratory fitness than children not participating in SC. Overweight children had lower results in cardiorespiratory fitness and all weight-bearing fitness tests, and better results in handgrip strength test in comparison with normal weight children. Significant associations were found between body composition indices and physical fitness tests. PA level was associated with fat-free mass and physical fitness but not with fatness indices. Conclusions Weight-status and body composition together with PA level were associated with physical fitness level. The differences in physical fitness based more upon weight status than SC participation among 6-7-years old children.

BackgroundPhysical activity, sedentary time, and sleep duration have been associated with body composition among children. The purpose of the present study was to assess the associations of objectively determined daily physical activity, sedentary time, sleep duration and body composition indices in 10–12-year-old children.MethodsTwo hundred and eleven schoolchildren (96 boys and 115 girls) aged 10.9 ± 0.7 years participated in this study. Objective physical activity intensity and sedentary levels were measured for seven days by accelerometry. Sleep duration was self-reported. Percentage of body fat, waist-to-height ratio and fat free mass were calculated from measured anthropometric parameters. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the associations between sleep duration, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), vigorous physical activity (VPA) level and body composition indices.ResultsBoys exceeded girls (p < 0.05) in time spent in MVPA and VPA levels. Only 4.3% of the children met the current daily recommendation of at least 60 min MVPA per day. Sleep duration, MVPA and VPA had a negative association with percentage of body fat and waist-to-height ratio. Vigorous physical activity had a positive association with fat-free mass. Sedentary time had a positive association with percentage of body fat and negative association with fat-free mass.ConclusionsThe present study suggests that both sleep duration and MVPA are associated with body composition parameters. Higher levels of MVPA are associated with lower percentage of body fat and waist-to-height ratio regardless of sleep duration. Sedentary time is associated with higher values of percentage of body fat and lower fat-free mass independently of sleep duration.

Physical activity (PA) and physical fitness are essential for normal growth, development and general health in childhood, and are important mediators of the enhancement of health-related quality of life and cognition. 1 Childhood obesity is increasing in prevalence all over the world, 2 and as related to accompanying psychological and cardiorespiratory complications, has become a major health, psychosocial, and economic concern. 3 It has been proposed that a high level of physical fitness in childhood and adolescence is associated with lower risks of future overweight, fatness, and metabolic syndrome. 4 Physical fitness has been considered to counteract some of the adverse effects of adiposity on health. 5 Observing associations of PA and physical fitness with body composition during childhood would explain the determinants of PA and physical fitness in preadolescence. Accompanying the transition from early to middle childhood are substantial changes in children's educational and recreational circumstances which may affect PA levels. 6,7 It is likely that the preschool environment influences the