Muscular fitness and cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with health-related quality of life: Results from labmed physical activity study

Abstract

Background/ObjectiveAdolescents’ physical fitness levels are an important indicator of their lifestyle and seem to have positive consequences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL).The purpose of this study is to analyse the combined associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular fitness with HRQoL and to assess the differences between HRQoL scores across groups of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular fitness in Portuguese adolescents.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional analysis with 567 Portuguese adolescents aged 12-18 years-old. HRQoL was measured using the Kidscreen-10 questionnaire. Cardiorespiratory fitness was estimated with the 20-m shuttle-run test. Muscular fitness was evaluated using the handgrip and the standing long jump tests and a muscular fitness index was computed by means of standardized measures of both tests. Socioeconomic status was assessed using the Family Affluence Scale. Body composition (body mass and height) was measured according to standard protocols. Accelerometers were used to obtain objective physical activity time. Pubertal stage was assessed using Tanner stages. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed using the KIDMED index. Participants were divided into four groups based on low or high values of both cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness. Regression analysis, mediation analysis and ANCOVA were performed.ResultsHRQoL was positively associated with cardiorespiratory fitness (B = 0.112; p < 0.05) and muscular fitness score (B = 0.328 p < 0.05), after controlling for potential confounders. However, when both fitness variables were entered in the same model only cardiorespiratory fitness remained significantly associated with HRQoL (B = 0.093 p < 0.05). Cardiorespiratory fitness acted as a full mediator variable on the relationship between muscular fitness and HRQoL in adolescents (p < 0.05). ANCOVA showed that adolescents with high cardiorespiratory fitness/high muscular fitness exhibit better HRQoL scores when compared to those with low muscular fitness/low cardiorespiratory fitness and with those with low muscular fitness/high cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.05).ConclusionsIn adolescents, the combination of high cardiorespiratory fitness and high muscular fitness was positively associated with a better HRQoL.

Influence of daily beer or ethanol consumption on physical fitness in response to a high-intensity interval training program. The BEER-HIIT study

“…Thus, our results are of great value for public health due to the strong and positive association between better VO 2 max. and reduced morbidity and mortality risk [1,3], which improves health, well-being and exercise performance [15][16][17][18].…”

“…Physical fitness is the ability to do a physical activity and/or physical exercise using most of the body structures [1,2]. Physical fitness integrates several components [1], such as cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength, which are widely recognized as powerful markers of sport performance, health-related outcomes and relevant determinants of current and future health status as well as important predictors of all-cause mortality [1,3,4]. Emerging evidence suggests that highintensity interval training (HIIT), which involves repeated bouts (< 45 s) of intense exercise (85-95% maximal heart rate) interspersed with periods of rest or lower-intensity active recovery, is an effective strategy to get important improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness [5][6][7][8][9] and muscular strength [5][6][7][8][9][10].…”

Muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with health-related quality of life among young adult men

“…The healthrelated components of physical fitness are commonly classified as cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance, body composition and flexibility, balance, agility, reaction time and power [18]. In previous studies, physical fitness was typically explored from the perspective of cardiorespiratory fitness [10,11,19,20], muscular fitness [21,22] or a combination of them [9,11,23] and was determined by several field tests. In young adulthood, low muscular strength has been found to be an emerging risk factor for major causes of death, such as suicide and cardiovascular diseases [21] and to be associated with higher levels of stress [24], lower level of mental well-being [22,24] and increased health-risk behaviour [22].…”

Association between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Physical Fitness with Body Composition Parameters in 1717 European Adolescents: The AdolesHealth Study

“…Healthy habits are a fundamental part in the prevention and intervention of obesity, and public health organizations pursue them in order to promote health among children and adolescents [6]. Physical activity (PA) and the adoption and maintenance of healthy eating patterns are crucial for a good health-related quality of life [7,8].…”