Which indices of cardiorespiratory fitness are more strongly associated with brain health in children with overweight/obesity?

Abstract

PurposeTo compare the strength of associations between different indices of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and brain health outcomes in children with overweight/obesity.MethodsParticipants were 100 children aged 8–11 years. CRF was assessed using treadmill exercise test (peak oxygen uptake [V̇O2peak], treadmill time, and V̇O2 at ventilatory threshold) and 20‐metre shuttle run test (20mSRT, laps, running speed, estimated V̇O2peak using the equations by Léger et al., Mahar et al., and Matsuzaka et al.). Intelligence, executive functions, and academic performance were assessed using validated methods. Total gray matter and hippocampal volumes were assessed using structural MRI.ResultsV̇O2peak/body mass (β = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.01–0.35) and treadmill time (β = 0.18–0.21, 95% CI = 0.01–0.39) were positively associated with gray matter volume. 20mSRT laps were positively associated with executive functions (β = 0.255, 95% CI = 0.089–0.421) and academic performance (β = 0.199–0.255, 95% CI = 0.006–0.421), and the running speed was positively associated with executive functions (β = 0.203, 95% CI = 0.039–0.367). Estimated V̇O2peak/Léger et al. was positively associated with intelligence, executive functions, academic performance, and gray matter volume (β = 0.205–0.282, 95% CI = 0.013–0.500). Estimated V̇O2peak/Mahar et al. and V̇O2peak/Matsuzaka et al. (speed) were positively associated with executive functions (β = 0.204–0.256, 95% CI = 0.031–0.436).ConclusionAlthough V̇O2peak is considered the gold standard indicator of CRF in children, peak performance (laps or running speed) and estimated V̇O2peak/Léger et al. derived from 20mSRT had stronger and more consistent associations with brain health outcomes than other indices of CRF in children with overweight/obesity.

Associations of physical fitness with cortical inhibition and excitation in adolescents and young adults

“…We also used W max as a measure of CRF instead of directly measuring maximal oxygen uptake. While using directly measured maximal oxygen uptake would have been optimal, W max is an acceptable surrogate measure of maximal oxygen uptake in youth ( Dencker et al, 2008 ; Haapala et al, 2024 ). In addition, although the research staff made every effort to encourage the participants to give their best in the fitness tests, which are considered reliable ( Platz et al, 2005 ; Ortega et al, 2008b ; Fjørtoft et al, 2011 ; Pate et al, 2012 ), we cannot completely rule out that the motivation, given effort, and day-to-day variation in the physical fitness tests did not influence the observed association.…”