Influence of physical fitness on cardio-metabolic risk factors in European children. The IDEFICS study

Abstract

Poor physical fitness in children is associated with the development of cardio-metabolic risk factors. Based on our results, this risk might be modified by improving mainly cardio-respiratory fitness and lower-limb muscular strength.

Relationships among cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, and cardiometabolic risk factors in Japanese adolescents: Niigata screening for and preventing the development of non-communicable disease study-Agano (NICE EVIDENCE Study-Agano) 2

“…This might suggest the usefulness of information on lower limb strength or muscular endurance, although data on CRF or upper limb strength would be preferable for metabolic health screening in a pediatric population. Contrary to our study, Zaqout et al showed that standing long jump results as a measurement of lower limb strength had the second largest protective association with CCMR after CRF; these were followed by waist circumference, lipids, and insulin resistance among 6 PF tests in prepubescent children (mean age, 8 years). Among Finish young men (mean age, 25 years), muscular endurance (consisting of push‐ups, sit‐ups, and repeated squats) was also inversely associated with CCMR, triglycerides, LDL‐C, glucose, and BP and positively with HDL‐C independent of CRF, suggesting the role of lower limb strength and muscular endurance as indices of metabolic states.…”

“…Previous research focused on upper limb strength defined by hand grip strength using the following 2 definitions: normalized value by body mass or BMI and measured raw value . These definitions differ in some respects.…”

Low‐grade inflammation and muscular fitness on insulin resistance in adolescents: Results from LabMed Physical Activity Study

“…10 Results from previous studies observed that MF (either upper limb alone or combined upper and lower limb) had higher effect than cardiorespiratory fitness on systemic low-grade inflammation 4 , while other authors found the association of cardiorespiratory fitness with clustered metabolic risk to be a slightly stronger than MF. 28,29 The findings of this study are in agreement with several other studies in adolescents showing that MF is inversely associated with IR. 8,11,12,30 However, none of these previous studies compared differences of the IR parameters by combining groups of inflammatory status and MF in adolescents.…”

The contribution of physical fitness to individual and ethnic differences in risk markers for type 2 diabetes in children: The Child Heart and Health Study in England (CHASE)

“…In particular, findings from the European Youth Heart Study (EYHS) showed that maximal ergometer assessments of cardiorespiratory fitness were inversely related to metabolic risk markers at both 9 and 15 years of age . These associations have since been demonstrated in prospective studies, providing further evidence of a causal relationship . We have previously reported that both physical activity and adiposity are associated with risk markers for T2D and CVD in this study population, and that these associations are partially, but not wholly, mutually independent.…”