Physical, Psychological, and Body Composition Differences between Active and Sedentary Adolescents According to the “Fat but Fit” Paradigm

Abstract

The practice of physical activity during adolescence is essential for the proper development of the population. In recent decades, the relevance of physical activity has been increasing, due to the development of the “fat but fit” paradigm. This paradigm shows that adolescents with a high level of physical fitness are healthier than adolescents with poorer physical fitness, regardless of their weight, giving importance to sports practice over other aspects. However, few previous studies have analyzed the differences in physical and body composition between active and sedentary adolescents in this paradigm. For this reason, the objectives of the present study were to establish the differences in body composition, physical performance, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet between active and sedentary adolescents; and to analyze the differences between active and sedentary adolescents according to the “fat but fit” paradigm. The sample consisted of 791 adolescent whose body composition, level of physical activity, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and physical fitness were measured. It was found significant between active and sedentary adolescents in most of the anthropometric, AMD, and physical fitness variables, with a significant effect of the covariates gender, age, BMI, and biological maturation on the model. The binary logistic regression analysis performed shows that anthropometric variables, AMD, and VO2 max can be considered as primary outcomes to distinguish between active and sedentary groups of adolescents. Furthermore, the results showed that the active adolescents, regardless of their weight status, had lower fat mass and greater muscle mass, as well as a higher performance in the physical fitness tests, and greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet than the sedentary adolescents. To conclude, the practice of physical activity is a determinant for the improvement of body composition, physical performance, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet of the adolescent population, regardless of their gender, age, weight, or maturity status.

The Importance of Healthy Habits to Compensate for Differences between Adolescent Males and Females in Anthropometric, Psychological and Physical Fitness Variables

“…Regarding the comparison between AM vs. SM, and AF vs. SF, the results showed no significant differences between AM and SM, or between AF and SF, in the anthropometric variables analyzed. Previous research has shown contrary results, with differences found between active and inactive adolescents [ 74 ], which could be due to the fact that previous studies did not perform a separate analysis of AM and SM and AF and SF, so the introduction of males and females in the same comparison group, with the existing anthropometric differences between them [ 10 ], could be the reason for the discrepancy with respect to the present study. Regarding the absence of differences between active and sedentary adolescents in the anthropometric variables of the present investigation, a possible explanation could be that the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in weight and body fat of adolescents due to a positive energy balance, regardless of their previous level of physical activity [ 75 ].…”

Are physical activity and/or adherence to the Mediterranean diet determinants of the changes found in kinanthropometric variables, body composition and physical fitness in adolescents?

“…However, these positive results in active versus inactive adolescents occurred only in adolescents with NIA and OA to the MD, but not in those with PA, where only differences in VO2max were found. Previous research showed similar results for VO2max where differences were found when considering the level of physical activity, regardless of gender, age, weight, or maturational status [42]. The present research provides new information in this respect, showing that active adolescents show higher VO2max, regardless of their AMD.…”

“…Based on previous research, a generic warm-up was performed that included 5 min of progressive running and 10 min of joint mobility of the main joints involved in the physical fitness tests [ 42 ]. The warm-up ended with a more specific part corresponding to the familiarization of the adolescents with the handgrip strength, CMJ, and 20-m sprint tests.…”

Body mass composition analysis as a predictor of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents

“…In the Mateo-Orcajada study, participants aged 12–16 years ( n = 791) compared anthropometric characteristics including body composition of physically active and inactive individuals. As in our study, significant differences were noted in almost every indicator between the active and inactive groups ( 29 ). The study by Baran et al evaluated children aged 6–17 years ( n = 69).…”