Differences in areal bone mineral density between metabolically healthy and unhealthy overweight/obese children: the role of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness

Abstract

Objectives: 1) to examine whether areal bone mineral density (aBMD) differs between metabolically healthy (MHO) and unhealthy (MUO) overweight/obese children, and 2) to examine the role of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in this association. Methods: a cross-sectional study was developed in 188 overweight/obese children (10.4 ± 1.2y) from the ActiveBrains and EFIGRO studies. Participants were classified as MHO or MUO based on Jolliffe and Janssen´s metabolic syndrome cutoff points for triglycerides, glucose, high-density cholesterol, and blood pressure. MVPA and CRF were assessed by accelerometry and the 20-meters shuttle run test, respectively. Body composition was measured by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: in model 1 (adjusted for sex, years from peak high velocity, stature and lean mass), MHO children had significantly higher aBMD in total body less head (Cohen´s d effect size, ES=0.34), trunk (ES=0.43) and pelvis (ES=0.33), than MUO children. These differences were attenuated once MVPA was added to the model 1 (model 2), and most of them disappeared once CRF was added to the model 1 (model 3). Conclusions: This novel research shows that MHO children have greater aBMD than their MUO peers. Furthermore, both MVPA and more importantly CRF, seem to partially explain these findings.

Bone Health in Patients with Dyslipidemias: An Underestimated Aspect

“…In a cross-sectional study from China (n = 14,303; 49.9% boys; mean age 11.4 ± 3.3 years), an inverse association was observed in both sexes between serum TG concentrations and calcaneus BMD [28]. Similar results were shown in a cross-sectional study from Spain (n = 188 overweight/obese children; mean age 10.4 ± 1.2 years), in which metabolically unhealthy children with metabolic syndrome (including high TG and low HDL-C concentrations) presented lower areal BMD compared with metabolically healthy ones [29]. In contrast, a cross-sectional study from the UK (n = 2305; 47.7% males; mean age 15.5 years) showed a positive association between serum TG and total body BMD, bone mineral content, and bone area.…”

Fat-free/lean body mass in children with insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Finally, the following 103 articles were selected: [ 24 – 34 , 44 – 135 ] after the evaluation of the full texts, 78 were excluded for the following reasons: (1) the design of the studies did not meet the inclusion criteria defined for this review [ 44 – 46 , 48 – 53 , 55 – 57 , 59 – 61 , 65 , 66 , 68 – 73 , 79 , 81 , 84 , 86 , 88 – 91 , 97 , 100 – 104 , 106 , 108 , 110 , 112 – 117 , 119 – 122 , 124 – 132 , 134 , 135 ] (2) the studies did not present an evaluation of whole body FFM/LBM, these were [ 47 , 54 , 58 , 62 – 64 , 67 , 74 – 78 , 80 , 82 , 83 , 85 , 92 – 96 , 105 , 107 , 109 , 111 , 123 ] and (3) another language [ 87 ] (Fig. 1 ).…”

Editorial: Physical activity and fitness for the prevention and management of bone diseases

“…Approximately 50% of women and 20% of men will suffer at least one osteoporosis fracture above the age of 50 years ( Holroyd et al, 2008 ). Physical inactivity and poor fitness are known as important factors behind the rise in NCDs and have been linked poor bone health and bone metabolism ( Gil-Cosano et al, 2020 ; Ubago-Guisado et al, 2020 ; Jürimäe et al, 2021 ). There is a lack of proper exercise intervention studies specifically designed for improving bone outcomes at clinical sites at various life stages and under certain conditions, which is crucial to underline the importance of physical activity and fitness both on bone accrual and bone preservation.…”