Determination of Body Fat Ratio Standards in Children at Early School Age Using Bioelectric Impedance

Background and objectives: Body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to assess the proportionality of body mass; however, there are currently no standards for assessing the weight status of the child population for the needs of epidemiological studies. This study aims to establish bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) standards for assessing the body weight of children (body fat, visceral fat) using BMI percentile growth charts. Materials and Methods: The study was implemented in a group of 1674 children (816 boys and 858 girls), ages 6 to 11. To classify the subjects at a percentile level, the percentile growth charts from the 6th national anthropological study in the Czech Republic were used. Body composition parameters were ascertained by BIA. Results: Body fat (%) and visceral fat standard values were determined for all age categories. The standards were in three-stages, enabling the determination of underweight, normal weight and overweight children aged 6–11 years. For boys with proportionate body mass, standard body fat values ranging from 14.3–16.0% to 15.5–18.0% were determined, while for girls’ values ranging from 16.7–19.4% to 18.3–20.5% were determined, depending on age. As far as visceral fat is concerned, standard values in boys ranging from 30.3–36.9 cm2 to 36.1–44.9 cm2 and in girls 30.3–36.9 cm2 to 36.1–44.9 cm2 were determined, depending on age. Conclusions: Standards for assessing weight status are applicable to children aged 6–11 years, while it can be confirmed that BMI can be considered as an objective tool in assessing body mass and body composition in children

The effect of regular running on body weight and fat tissue of individuals aged 18 to 65

Abstract Background Age and reduction in performed physical activity cause physiological changes that include an increase in body fat (BF) and visceral fat (VF) during aging. These parameters, together with increased body mass (BM), are some of the risk factors of several noninfectious diseases. However, changes in body composition can be influenced by regular physical activity. Running is a suitable, accessible, and the most effective physical activity cultivating people. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of long-term, regular PA, specifically recreational running, on changes in body composition among recreational adult runners covering a weekly distance of at least 10 km, compared with inactive adult individuals within the same age bracket. Methods The study included 1296 runners and inactive individuals (691 male and 605 female), divided into 5 age groups: 18–25, 26–35, 36–45, 46–55, and 56–65 years. Runners are as follows: ran ≥ 10 km/week, and inactive is as follows: did not follow the WHO 2020 physical activity recommendations. The measured parameters included BM, BF, and VF. To check statistical significance, the Mann–Whitney U-test was used. Practical significance was assessed using the effect of size. Results All age groups of runners were selected to include individuals who run at least 10 km per week. In fact, they ran, on average, from 21.6 to 31.4 km per week in relation to age and showed significantly lower values of BM, BMI, BF, and VF (p  0.05) in BM and BMI in males in the age category of 18–25 and in females in the age category of 18–25 and 26–35. Conclusion The selected runners had to run at least 10 km per week. Their actual average volume was significantly higher (from 21.6 to 31.4 km/week), and the results showed that it could lead to significantly better body composition values. It may lead to significant changes in body mass, body fat, and visceral fat. It may meet the contemporary societal expectations for physical activities that are both achievable and effective at the lowest possible volume

The Effect of Regular Physical Activity on Muscle and Adipose Tissue in Premenopausal Women

Regular physical activity (PA) plays an important role in the prevention of several noninfectious chronic diseases, partly due to its positive effects on body composition. The relationship between the amount of weekly PA and body composition in premenopausal women, however, remains unclear. The objective of the study is to assess the relationship between body composition and the volume of PA in full-time employed premenopausal women. The study included 136 women (aged 41.07 ± 2.77 years). The women were divided into tertiles (T1–T3) according to the level of total reported weekly PA. T1 were women with the lowest volume of PA, T2 were women with a medium volume, and T3 were women with the highest PA volume. DXA was used to measure body mass (BM), body fat (BF), visceral fat (VFA), and fat-free mass (FFM). For the comparison of means, we used one-way ANOVA and a t test. Practical significance was verified with effect of size. Significant differences were found between women in T1 vs. T2 and T1 vs. T3. When compared with T2, T1 women had a higher BM (+6.10 kg), BF (+5.98 kg), BF (+5.42%), and VF (+17.49 cm2). When compared with T3, T1 women had a higher BM (+5.99 kg), BF (+6.42 kg), BF (+5.89%), and VFA (+20.71 cm2). We can conclude that a higher volume of weekly PA is associated with lower BF, but appears to have no effect on FFM

Regular running in an air-polluted environment: physiological and anthropometric protocol for a prospective cohort study (Healthy Aging in Industrial Environment Study – Program 4)

Introduction Ambient air pollution is a global environmental problem, which causes adverse health effects and premature deaths worldwide. Although regular exercise and physical activity have evident health benefits, the influence of long-term air pollution exposure during regular outdoor running has not been definitively clarified.Methods and analysis This study protocol describes the physiological and anthropometric perspectives of the ‘Healthy Aging in Industrial Environment’ Study – Programme 4 (4HAIE). The 4HAIE research project is intended to be a single-centre, prospective, longitudinal and multidisciplinary cohort study. The presented study protocol describes the cross-sectional measurements and analyses. Overall, 1500 adult participants (age 18–65 years), runners and inactive individuals, living in a high or low air-polluted area of the Czech Republic will be recruited. We will measure and analyse biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in the blood, exercise capacity (graded exercise test and spiroergometry), blood pressure, lung function (spirometry), cardiac autonomic regulation and anthropometry (body composition).Ethics and dissemination The 4HAIE study protocol has already been approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Ostrava (3/2018). A detailed participant information sheet will be provided to each individual prior to obtaining their written informed consent. The study poses little to no risk to participants. The findings of this study will be disseminated at regional and international conferences, in peer-reviewed journals and via social and broadcast media