Background Education and health are crucial topics for public policies as both largely determine the future wellbeing of the society. Currently, several studies recognize that physical activity (PA) benefits brain health in children. However, most of these studies have not been carried out in developing countries or lack the transference into the education field. The Cogni-Action Project is divided into two stages, a cross-sectional study and a crossover-randomized trial. The aim of the first part is to establish the associations of PA, sedentarism, and physical fitness with brain structure and function, cognitive performance and academic achievement in Chilean schoolchildren (10–13 years-old). The aim of the second part is to determinate the acute effects of three PA protocols on neuroelectric indices during a working memory and a reading task. Methods PA and sedentarism will be self-reported and objectively-assessed with accelerometers in a representative subsample, whilst physical fitness will be evaluated through the ALPHA fitness test battery. Brain structure and function will be assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a randomized subsample. Cognitive performance will be assessed through the NeuroCognitive Performance Test, and academic achievement by school grades. In the second part 32 adolescents (12–13 year-old) will be cross-over randomized to these condition (i) “Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training” (MICT), (ii) “Cooperative High-Intensity Interval Training” (C-HIIT), and (iii) Sedentary condition. Neuroelectric indices will be measures by electroencephalogram (EEG) and eye-tracking, working memory by n-back task and reading comprehension by a reading task. Discussion The main strength of this project is that, to our knowledge, this is the first study analysing the potential association of PA, sedentarism, and physical fitness on brain structure and function, cognitive performance, and academic achievement in a developing country, which presents an important sociocultural gap. For this purpose, this project will use advanced technologies in neuroimaging (MRI), electrophysiology (EEG), and eye-tracking, as well as objective and quality measurements of several physical and cognitive health outcomes. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03894241 Date of register: March 28, 2019. Retrospectively Registered. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12887-019-1639-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

We investigated the associations of different sedentary behaviors (SB) with gray matter volume and we tested whether SB related to gray matter volume is associated with intelligence. Methods: 99 children with overweight or obesity aged 8–11 years participated in this cross-sectional study. SB was measured using the Youth Activity Profile-Spain questionnaire. T1-weighted images were acquired with a 3.0 T Magnetom Tim Trio system. Intelligence was assessed with the Kaufman Brief Test. Whole-brain voxel-wise multiple regression models were used to test the associations of each SB with gray matter volume. Results: Watching TV was associated with lower gray matter volume in six brain regions (β ranging −0.314 to −0.489 and cluster size 106 to 323 voxels; p < 0.001), playing video games in three brain regions (β ranging −0.391 to −0.359, and cluster size 96 to 461 voxels; p < 0.001) and total sedentary time in two brain regions (β ranging −0.341 to −0.352, and cluster size 897 to 2455 voxels; p < 0.001). No brain regions showed a significant positive association (all p > 0.05). Two brain regions were related, or borderline related, to intelligence. Conclusions: SB could have the potential to negatively influence brain structure and, in turn, intelligence in children with overweight/obesity.

The aim was to investigate the associations between different physical activity (PA) patterns and sedentary time (ST) with vitamin D deficiency (<12 ng/mL) in a large sample of Chilean women. In this cross-sectional study, the final sample included 1245 adult and 686 older women. The PA levels, mode of commuting, ST, and leisure-time PA were self-reported. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as <12 ng/mL and insufficiency as <20 ng/mL. A higher ST was associated with vitamin D deficiency (odds ratio (OR): 2.4, 95%: 1.6–4.3) in adults, and passive commuting was associated with vitamin D deficiency in older (OR: 1.7, 95%: 1.1–2.7). Additionally, we found a joint association in the high ST/passive commuting group in adults (OR: 2.8, 95%: 1.6–4.9) and older (OR: 2.8, 95%: 1.5–5.2) with vitamin D deficiency, in respect to low ST/active commuting. The PA levels and leisure-time PA were not associated with vitamin D deficiency. In conclusion, mode of commuting and ST seems important variables related to vitamin D deficiency. Promoting a healthy lifestyle appears important also for vitamin D levels in adult and older women. Further studies are needed to establish causality of this association and the effect of vitamin D deficiency in different diseases in this population.

Introducción: En Chile el primer caso de COVID-19 fue diagnosticado el tres de marzo del 2020 y el día dieciocho del mismo mes el presidente decreto estado de catástrofe, por lo que las clases a nivel escolar y universitario pasaron de la presencialidad a la virtualidad. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo conocer el nivel de satisfacción de las clases virtuales de los estudiantes de Educación Física. Metodología: Cuantitativa, no experimental, transversal. La muestra estuvo constituida por 542 alumnos de Educación Física de diferentes casas de estudio de Chile. Se adaptó y validó la escala Satisfacción clases online. Resultados: existen diferencias significativas comparando las asignaturas teóricas y prácticas, siendo mejor valoradas las cátedras teóricas. También se encontraron diferencias por sexo, donde los varones poseen una percepción más negativa sobre las clases virtuales y al comparar por curso, los alumnos de primer año poseen una percepción más positiva sobre las clases virtuales en relación con los cursos superiores. Conclusiones: existe una resistencia por parte de los alumnos a las clases virtuales en la Educación Física, pues, si bien se encontraron diferencias significativas entre las asignaturas teóricas y prácticas, los valores siempre estuvieron alrededor de 3 en una escala de 1 a 5. Se hacen necesarias futuras investigaciones con otras variables como actividad física, niveles de estrés y estrategias para la enseñanza de la Educación Física virtual. Abstract. Introduction: In Chile the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed on March 3, 2020 and on the eighteenth of the same month the president decreed state of catastrophe, so that classes at school and university level went from the presence to the virtuality. The present study aims to know the level of satisfaction of the virtual classes of the students of Physical Education. Methodology: Quantitative, non experimental, transversal. The sample consisted of 542 students of Physical Education from different study houses in Chile. The Satisfaction scale online classes was adapted and validated. Results: there are significant differences comparing theoretical and practical subjects, with theoretical chairs being better valued. Differences were also found by sex, where males have a more negative perception about virtual classes and when comparing by course, freshmen have a more positive perception about virtual classes in relation to higher courses. Conclusions: there is a resistance on the part of students to virtual classes in Physical Education, because, although significant differences were found between the theoretical and practical subjects, values were always around 3 on a scale of 1 to 5. Future research with other variables such as physical activity, stress levels and strategies for the teaching of Virtual Physical Education are necessary.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to compare academic achievement, cognitive performance, playtime, bullying, and discrimination in adolescents according to traditional uniforms (TUs) and sports uniforms (SUs) worn at school, while simultaneously exploring the influence of the school vulnerability index.MethodsA total of 988 Chilean adolescents (52.6% boys) aged 10–14 years participated in this cross-sectional study. Academic achievement was evaluated by the average grade in maths, language, and science grades, while cognitive performance was assessed through eight cognitive tasks. TUs affecting physical activity, playtime, bullying, and discrimination were queried. Mixed model analyses were performed.ResultsNo differences were observed in academic achievement (TU: 5.4 ± 0.1 vs. SU: 5.5 ± 0.2, p = 0.785) or in cognitive performance (TU: 99.6 ± 0.8 vs. SU: 98.9 ± 1.8, p= 0.754) according to the school uniformtype. Moreover, 64.1 % of participants declared that wearing TU affects their physical activity (traditional uniforms: + 8 min and sports uniforms: + 20 min), and those who believed so spent more time playing than those who answered negatively (14.5 min, p = 0.012). Finally, adolescents wearing SU displayed a lower feeling of bullying and discrimination; this finding depended mainly on the school's vulnerability.ConclusionIt is concluded that wearing TU does not show an educational advantage at an academic and cognitive level that justifies its obligation. In addition, it could be suggested that schools consider adolescents' opinions in adopting a more comfortable uniform, such as the SU. This feasible and low-cost measure would help to increase adolescents' physical activity during the school day, and, contrary to belief, it would not be related to increased feelings of bullying and discrimination.

Background: the present study aimed to investigate the effects of a single nutritional preventive session previous to a critical period linked to fat gain in university students with overweightness and obesity, emulating a nutritional session of a public health system. Methods: In this single-blind randomized controlled trial, 23 students met all the criteria to be included (20.91 ± 2.52-year-old; 52.2% women) who were divided into two groups: intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). Fat mass (FM) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), physical activity by accelerometry, feeding evaluation through three questionnaires, and a set of healthy lifestyle recommendations were evaluated before and after the national holidays (NH). Results: Our findings showed that FM increased significantly in the CG, but not in the IG (CG = 428.1g; IG = 321.9g; D = 106.2g; p = 0.654 [95% CI = −379.57, 591.92]). However, no differences were found during the NH between them (Hedges’ g effect size = 0.19; p = 0.654). In addition, no statistical differences were observed between groups in feeding evaluations, the set of recommendations performed, and physical activity. Conclusion: a single preventive session before a critical period, using a similar counselling approach as used in the public health system, might not be enough to promote changes in eating and physical activity patterns and preventing fat gain in overweight/obese university students. Long-term interventions are a must.

To determine the effect of a concurrent training program on body composition and phase angle in young women. 38 women (19.26 ± 1.86 years) participated in the study, and were assigned according to convenience sampling into two groups: 11 into the control group (CG) and 27 into the intervention group (IG). The IG performed a 12-weeks concurrent training protocol. The frequency was five days a week, and the intensity was established in 40-60 % of a repetition maximum to strength exercise, and 40-65 % heart rate reserve to endurance exercise. Body composition and phase angle were evaluated by bioelectrical impedance before and after the intervention. The IG had a decrease in fat mass (pre = 24.66 ± 5.65 kg; post = 20.38 ± 4.20 kg; Cohen's d = .80; p< 0,001 [CI 95 % = 3.34,5.22]), and an increase in muscle mass (pre = 22.75 ±3.23 kg; post: 23.50± 3.41 kg; Cohen's d = -0.86; p= <0,001[CI 95 % = -1.09,-0.40]) and total phase angle (pre = 5.72º ±0.39; post: 6.24º ± 0.51; Cohen's d = -1.32; p=<0,001 [CI 95 % = -0.67,-0.36]), whereas the CG had not show significant variations in variables of body composition or total phase angle. The results suggest that a 12-weeks concurrent training program could modify positively the young women's body composition and phase angle. Hence, it is recommended using similar protocols to change variables related to young women's health.

RESUMEN: El objetivo del estudio fue describir las características antropométricas y somatotipo de los seleccionados chilenos de remo. Se evaluaron a 21 deportistas (6 mujeres y 15 hombres) con edades promedio de 18,66 ± 2,58 años para las mujeres y de 22,06 ± 4,71 años para los hombres. El estudio se realizó previo al clasificatorio Panamericano Lima 2019, al momento de las evaluaciones, los deportistas se encontraban concentrados en el centro de entrenamiento olímpico (CEO) ubicado en Curauma en la región de Valparaíso en Chile. Las evaluaciones antropométricas se realizaron en base al perfil restringido de 25 variables propuesto por Ross & Kerr (1991), que permitió fraccionar la masa corporal en 5 componentes (tejidos: piel, residual, óseo, adiposo y muscular). Se midieron también la envergadura, la altura ilioespinal y los pliegues del bíceps y supracrestídeo, todas las medidas se realizaron en base al protocolo de marcaje y evaluación propuesto por ISAK. Se uso el método de Carter y Heath para calcular el somatotipo, describiendo los componentes de endomorfía, mesomorfía y ectomorfía respectivamente. Los resultados mostraron un porcentaje de grasa en hombres de 19,34 ± 1,59 % y en mujeres de 27,08 ± 3,6 % (p=0,003), la masa muscular de hombres fue de 52,69 ± 1,78 % y en mujeres de 45,68 ± 4,19 % (p=0,003), se apreció un somatotipo mesomorfo balanceado tanto en hombres (1,7-5,3-2,2) como mujeres (2,5-3,7-2,7). Se concluye que los seleccionados chilenos de remo presentan un alto desarrollo de masa muscular y un bajo porcentaje de masa grasa, además de un somatotipo mesomorfo balanceado.