Secular Changes in Aerobic Fitness Levels in Brazilian Children

Abstract

Introduction: Aerobic fitness is a component of physical fitness related to health and has great importance in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Objective: To verify the secular changes in aerobic fitness levels and to identify factors over a decade related to low levels of aerobic fitness in Brazilian children. Methods: This secular change study was carried out from 1999 to 2010 with 11,083 children aged from six to nine years, of both sexes, living in all regions of Brazil. The aerobic fitness was assessed by the 9-minute run test. The independent variables were sex, age, geographic region, area of residence, and nutritional status. The "t" test was used for independent samples and analysis of variance, chi-square test, and Poisson regression were used to estimate prevalence ratio (PR) and confidence intervals of 95% (CI 95%). Results: No significant changes in the distance covered in the 9-minute run test and in the prevalence of low levels of aerobic fitness were observed from 1999 to 2010. The population subgroups most likely to have low aerobic fitness levels were students aged seven years, those in the Midwestern, Southeast, and South of Brazil, those living in rural areas and those with overweight and obesity. Conclusions: Over a decade, low levels of aerobic fitness were present in four fifths of Brazilian children and this picture did not change. Low levels of aerobic fitness affected more children above six years old, living in the economically most favored regions of Brazil, in rural areas and with overweight.Keywords: physical endurance; physical fitness; exercise; health inequalities. RESUMO Introdução: A aptidão aeróbica é um componente da aptidão física relacionado com a saúde e tem grande importância na prevenção de doenças cardiovasculares. Objetivo: Verificar as mudanças seculares nos níveis de aptidão aeróbica e identificar os fatores ao longo de uma década relacionados com os baixos níveis de aptidão ae SECULAR CHANGES IN AEROBIC FITNESS LEVELS IN BRAZILIAN CHILDREN MUDANÇAS SECULARES EM NÍVEIS DE APTIDÃO AERÓBICA EM CRIANÇAS BRASILEIRAS CAMBIOS SECULARES EN NIVELES DE APTITUD AERÓBICA EN NIÑOS BRASILEÑOS

Prevalence of Brazilian children and adolescents who met health criteria for aerobic fitness: systematic review update for Report Card Brazil Project

“…This systematic review reinforces what the previous systematic review of this project 6 identified, which is the fact that different protocols and cutoff points were used to assess the aerobic fitness of Brazilian children and adolescents. Although there is a cutoff point specifically created for the Brazilian population from the 6-minute running / walking test 39 (in the age group of 6-17 years), of the 13 studies included in the present review, five used cutoff points of "Projeto Esporte Brasil" (PROESP-BR) 32 . The other studies used other cutoff points, such as CSEP 8 for the Mcaft test, Fitnessgram and Ortegal et al 3,32 with the 20 meter shuttle run test, De Miguel-Etayo et al 10 with the Children modified version of the original test 5 (children) and Rodrigues et al 33 with the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery.…”

“…The other studies used other cutoff points, such as CSEP 8 for the Mcaft test, Fitnessgram and Ortegal et al 3,32 with the 20 meter shuttle run test, De Miguel-Etayo et al 10 with the Children modified version of the original test 5 (children) and Rodrigues et al 33 with the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery. PROESP-BR cutoff points were created in 1994 and the latest version was published in 2018, with normative data on physical growth and physical fitness related to the health of children and adolescents 39 . The different tests and protocols used can impact the prevalence found and make it difficult to systematize and compare results.…”

Association between 9-minute walk/run test and obesity among children and adolescents: evidence for criterion-referenced cut-points

“…Regardless, this research contributes to an attempt to standardize cut-points based on health criteria for aerobic fitness using a large sample. In addition, data from this research project are used in Brazil for physical fitness follow-up of children and adolescents (Silva, Petroski & Gaya, 2017), making the information presented relevant for the country.…”

“…Results of the aerobic fitness surveillance system in Brazil indicated that from 1990 to 2010 there was stability in the physical fitness levels of children aged 6-9 years. However, more than 80% of these children were classified with low levels of aerobic fitness (Silva, Petroski & Gaya, 2017).…”

Excess weight in children living in rural areas related to the nutritional profile and to maternal habits

“…( 2 ) This suggests that the nutritional transition also affects the rural area, and that, despite the fact that the family's work practices in the countryside involve planting and harvesting, which would favor physical exercise and access to in natura food, there is an increase in consumption of processed products and sedentary behaviors among children and their families. ( 3 ) The situation is worrying, since obese children are more likely to become obese adolescents and adults, and may consequently present associated chronic diseases,( 4 ) which will increase public spending on health, in addition to reducing time and quality of life. ( 5 )…”