The fit-active profile to better reflect the benefits of a lifelong vigorous physical activity participation: mini-review of literature and population data

Abstract

Physical activity is favorably considered for its effect on metabolic fitness and body composition. This observation is generally supported by observational studies and is concordant with endurance-trained individuals' metabolic and morphological profiles. However, in some contexts, the measurement of physical activity habits may not provide an adequate representation of its benefits. In this paper, we review relevant literature on the respective effects of fitness and physical activity on anthropometric and metabolic variables and the informative potential of a classification based on aerobic fitness and activity indicators. The relevance to defining a profile based on both fitness and activity is reinforced by data from the Quebec Family Study showing that, in both men and women, “fit-active” individuals displayed a much more favorable morphological and metabolic profile than “unfit-inactive” individuals. Moreover, these benefits seemed to be more related to variations in fitness than in physical activity. In summary, evidence suggests that a profile combining information on aerobic fitness and physical activity may better reflect the lifelong impact of physical activity on body composition and health.
 
 Novelty bullets:
 ●The fit-active profile better reflects the long-term benefits of vigorous physical activity participation on health.
 ●The reported benefits seem to be more related to variations in aerobic fitness than to those in physical activity.

Effects of sodium intake and cardiorespiratory fitness on body composition and genetic susceptibility to obesity: results from the Quebec Family Study

“…From a statistical standpoint, this effect is robust since its high statistical significance persisted after adjustment for either total sugar, fat or energy intake. This observation also raises the question as to why aerobic fitness, which provides a better picture of the long-term print of physical activity than reported actual physical activity participation (44) , offers a protective effect against weight gain in female high Na consumers. Up to now, there is no clear answer to this question, but the recently reported research of Kitada et al (5) is worthy of consideration in this context.…”