El papel mediador de la densidad poblacional en la asociación entre los factores ambientales percibidos y el desplazamiento activo a la escuela en adolescentes brasileños

Scholarship from the Brazilian Graduate Studies Coordinating Board (CAPES). Research fellowship from the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq; 305200/2013-5). J. Mota was supported by grants from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT; SFRH/BSAB/142983/2018 and UID/DTP/00617/2019), as well as Scholarship Program of Santander Universities 2018.The objective of this study was to verify whether residential density and connectivity between streets are mediators on the association between perceived environmental factors and active commuting to school (ACS) in Brazilian adolescents. This is a cross-sectional study with a random sample of 1,130 adolescents (52.7% girls) aged between 14 to 20 years, from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Adolescents’ self-reported their usual mode of commuting to and from school using a questionnaire and the perceived environmental attributes by Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth (NEWS-Y). Residential density and connectivity between streets were measured by gographic information systems (GIS), within 1km road network buffers around the participant’s residential address. Regression models were fitted according to mediation analyses procedures. The results showed that residential density is a mediator on the association between ACS and perceived environmental factors, including land-use mix diversity (IE = 0.114; 95%CI: 0.130, 0.311; 32% mediation), neighborhood recreation facilities (IE = 0.064; 95%CI: 0.034, 0.105; 15% mediation), and access to services (IE = 0.045; 95%CI: 0.006, 0.104; 14% mediation). Connectivity between streets did not correlate with ACS, thus it was not tested in the mediation model. In conclusion, residential density is a mediator on the relationship between perceived environmental factors and ACS.O estudo teve como objetivo verificar se a densidade residencial e a conectividade entre ruas são mediadores da associação entre fatores ambientais percebidos e deslocamento ativo casa-escola (DAE) em adolescentes brasileiros. Foi um estudo transversal com uma amostra randomizada de 1.130 adolescentes (52,7% do sexo feminino) entre 14 e 20 anos de idade, de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Os adolescentes informaram seu modo de deslocamento casa-escola (ida e volta) através de um questionário, além dos atributos ambientais percebidos, de acordo com a Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth (NEWS-Y). A densidade residencial e a conectividade entre ruas foram medidas por sistemas de informação geográfica (SIG), dentro de um raio de 1km da rede viária em torno do endereço residencial do participante. Foram ajustados modelos de regressão de acordo com os procedimentos para análises de mediação. Os resultados mostraram que a densidade residencial é um mediador da associação entre os fatores ambientais percebidos e o DAE, inclusive a diversidade do uso do solo (EI = 0,114; IC95%: 0,130, 0,311; 32% de mediação), infraestrutura para atividades de lazer na vizinhança (EI = 0,064; IC95%: 0,034, 0,105; 15% de mediação) e acesso a serviços (EI = 0,045; IC95%: 0,006, 0,104; 14% de mediação). A conectividade entre ruas não mostrou correlação com DAE, portanto não foi testado no modelo de mediação. Conclui-se que a densidade residencial é um mediador da relação entre fatores ambientais percebidos e DAE.El objetivo fue verificar si la densidad poblacional y la conectividad entre calles son mediadores en la asociación entre los factores ambientales percibidos y el desplazamiento activo a la escuela (DAE) en adolescentes brasileños. Se trata de un estudio transversal, con una muestra aleatoria de 1.130 adolescentes (52,7% chicas), con una edad comprendida entre los 14 y los 20 años de edad, de Porto Alegre, Río Grande do Sul, Brasil. Los adolescentes autoinformaron su modo habitual de desplazamiento “a” y “desde” la escuela, usando un cuestionario y las características ambientales percibidas mediante el Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth (NEWS-Y). La densidad poblacional y conectividad entre las calles se midieron mediante los sistemas de información geográfica (GIS), dentro de una red vial delimitada por un radio de 1km alrededor de la dirección residencial del participante. Los modelos de regresión se ajustaron según los procedimientos para el análisis de mediación. Los resultados mostraron que la densidad poblacional es un a mediador en la asociación entre los factores ambientales percibidos y la DAE, incluyendo el uso del suelo para diversos fines (EI = 0,114; IC95%: 0,130, 0,311; 32% mediación), instalaciones recreativas en el barrio (EI = 0,064; IC95%: 0,034, 0,105; 15% mediación), y acceso a los servicios (EI = 0,045; IC95%: 0,006, 0,104; 14% mediación). Conectividad entre calles que no mostraron correlación con DAE, por consiguiente, no fue probado en el modelo de mediación. En conclusión, la densidad poblacional es un mediador en la relación entre los factores ambientales percibidos con DAE.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPQ) 305200/2013-5Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology SFRH/BSAB/142983/2018 UID/DTP/00617/2019Scholarship Program of Santander Universitie

Factores personales y ambientales asociados con el desplazamiento activo al colegio de los escolares españoles

Objetivos: Los factores personales y ambientales pueden influir en el transporte activo al colegio. Los objetivos fueron: a) examinar los patrones de los desplazamientos a la escuela entre los escolares y, b) analizar la asociación de factores personales y ambientales con el desplazamiento activo a la escuela. Método: Los participantes fueron 745 escolares de 8,9 años (SD: 1,7), (363 niñas), de cuatro colegios en la provincia de Granada. Los escolares rellenaron un cuestionario sobre el modo de desplazamiento, factores personales y ambientales. Las diferencias en el modo de desplazamiento al colegio en función de género y edad se analizaron con Chi-cuadrado. La relación de los factores personales y ambientales con el desplazamiento activo al colegio se analizó con regresión logística binaria ajustada por género y edad. Resultados: Un total de 57,2% de los escolares realizó el trayecto caminando, el 40,3% utilizó coche, un 1,2% moto, el 0,7% utilizó el autobús y la bicicleta un 0,6%. Hubo diferencias significativas según la edad para el desplazamiento andando y en coche (P = 0,003). Los niños que viajaban solos eran más activos que los que viajaban acompañados (10.049, 3.950 - 25.567%). Los niños que vivían cerca del colegio eran más activos que los que vivían más lejos (16.439, 5,717- 47,271%). Los niños que percibían caminos seguros eran más activos que aquellos que percibían caminos inseguros (2.365, 1,665- 3,360%). Conclusión: Intervenciones a nivel familiar y estrategias ambientales en los caminos al colegio, podrían ser medidas eficaces para aumentar el desplazamiento activo al colegio.Universidad de Granada. Máster Universitario en Investigación de Actividad Física y Deporte

Health-Related Physical Fitness Benefits in Sedentary Women Employees after an Exercise Intervention with Zumba Fitness®

We are grateful to Ana Yara Postigo-Fuentes for her assistance with the English language edition, who can be contracted through the University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigación 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence, Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES), and by the Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Conocimiento, Investigación y Universidades and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), ref. SOMM17/6107/UGR.Background: The protective properties of high physical fitness levels on health are manifest independently of age, sex, fatness, smoking, alcohol consumption, and other clinical factors. However, women are less active than men, which contributes to low physical fitness and a high risk of CVD. Thus, the objective of this study is to analyze the effect of two exercise interventions on health-related physical fitness in sedentary employed females. Methods: A total of 98 physically inactive adult women were randomly assigned to 3 study groups: the control group (CG) = 31, the endurance training group based on Zumba Fitness® classes (ET; n = 39), and the concurrent training group that had an extra muscle-strengthening workout after the Zumba Fitness® class (CnT; n = 28). Body composition (BMI, waist circumference), motor fitness (one-leg stand test), musculoskeletal fitness (shoulder–neck mobility, handgrip strength test, jump and reach test, and dynamic sit-up test), and cardiorespiratory fitness (2-km test and estimated VO2 max) were assessed with the ALPHA-Fit test battery for adults. Results: Both interventions showed a significant improvement in the majority of health-related fitness and body composition variables/test (waist circumference: ET = −2.275 ± 0.95, p = 0.02, CnT = −2.550 ± 1.13, p = 0.03; one-stand leg test: ET = 13.532 ± 2.65, p < 0.001; CnT = 11.656 ± 2.88, p < 0.001; shoulder–neck mobility: ET = 1.757 ± 0.44, p < 0.001, CnT = 2.123 ± 0.47, p < 0.001; handgrip test: 0.274 ± 0.08, p < 0.001, CnT = 0.352 ± 0.08, p < 0.001; dynamic sit-up: ET = 1.769 ± 0.45, p < 0.001, CnT = −1.836 ± 0.49, p < 0.001; 2-km test time: −1.280 ± 0.25, p < 0.001, CnT = −1.808 ± 0.28, p < 0.001; estimated VO2 max: ET = 1.306 ± 0.13, p < 0.001, CnT = 1.191 ± 0.15, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences after the intervention between the two exercise intervention groups. Conclusions: Exercise interventions based on Zumba fitness® or Zumba fitness® combined with an extra muscle-strengthening workout based on bodyweight training exercises are effective strategies to improve the health-related physical fitness in sedentary women employees

Supervised exercise following bariatric surgery in morbid obese adults: CERTbased exercise study protocol of the EFIBAR randomised controlled trial

The authors acknowledge the help of the participants that are taking part in the study. Moreover, authors appreciate the help to the hospitals, as well as the sports center of the University of Almería, who helped with the development of the project.The clinical datasets will be available according to the terms established in the Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03497546, i.e., once the study ends and the main results are published, contacting the responsible party ([email protected]).Trial registration: The trial was prospectively registered at Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03497546 on April 13, 2018.Background: There is increasing evidence of weight regain in patients after bariatric surgery (BS), generally occurring from 12 to 24 months postoperatively. Postoperative exercise has been suggested to ad long-term weight maintenance and to improve physical function in BS patients. However, there are a limited number of intervention studies investigating the possible benefits of exercise in this population. The aim of the current report is to provide a comprehensive CERT (Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template)-based description of the rationale and details of the exercise programme implemented in the EFIBAR Study (Ejercicio FÍsico tras cirugía BARiátrica), a randomised controlled trial investigating the effects of a 16-week supervised concurrent (aerobic and strength) exercise intervention program on weight loss (primary outcome), body composition, cardiometabolic risk, physical fitness, physical activity and quality of life (secondary outcomes) in patients with severe/morbid obesity following bariatric surgery. Methods: A total of 80 BS patients [60–80% expected women, aged 18 to 60 years, body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40 kg/m2 or ≥ 35 kg/m2 with comorbid conditions)] will be enrolled in the EFIBAR Randomized Control Trial (RCT). Participants allocated in the exercise group (n = 40) will undertake a 16-week supervised concurrent (strength and aerobic) exercise programme (three sessions/week, 60 min/session), starting 7 to 14 days after surgery. The rationale of the exercise programme will be described following the CERT criteria detailing the 16 key items. The study has been reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Torrecárdenas University Hospital (Almería, Spain) (ref. N° 76/2016). Discussion: The present study details the exercise programme of the EFIBAR RCT, which may serve: 1) exercise professionals who would like to implement an evidence-based exercise programme for BS patients, and 2) as an example of the application of the CERT criteria.This work was supported by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO), Plan Nacional de I + D + i call RETOS 2016, reference DEP2016–74926-R. These funding sources approved this study; however, they had no role in the design of this study and will not have any role during its execution, analyses, interpretation of the data, writing the manuscript, or decision to submit results

Dance Fitness Classes Improve the Health-Related Quality of Life in Sedentary Women

Authors are grateful to valuable support of National University of Chimborazo, as well as to all participants of the study. We are grateful to Ana Yara Postigo-Fuentes for her assistance with the English language.Introduction: This study aims to analyze the effect of two dance-focused and choreographic fitness classes on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in sedentary worker women. Methods: 65 sedentary middle-aged worker women (38 ± 7.3 years old) completed a 16-week intervention randomly assigned to: (1) dance fitness group based on Zumba Fitness classes (DF group, n = 25)], (2) dance fitness + functional strength training group (DFFT group, n = 20), and (3) control group (n = 20). HRQoL was assessed by the 36-Item Short-Form Health-Survey (SF-36), which evaluates 8 dimensions of health [General Health (GH), Physical Functioning (PF), Social Functioning (SF), Physical Role (PR), Emotional Role (ER), Bodily Pain (BP), Vitality (V), and Mental Health (MH)] scored from 0 (worst) to 100 (best health status). Results: The control group statistically differed from both exercise groups in PF and PR, and from the DF group in SF and MH showing a lower score. No statistical differences were observed between exercise groups post-intervention, except in V. DF group showed increases in GH, PF, SF, V, PR, and MH post-intervention. Conclusions: A 16-week dance fitness intervention based on Zumba Fitness classes generates notable improvements in a wide range of HRQoL dimensions in sedentary middle-aged worker women, especially in V, PR and MH dimensions

Effectiveness of an active commuting school-based intervention at 6-month follow-up

Active commuting to school may provide a significant source of physical activity in youth. Previous school-based intervention studies have shown a positive effect on increasing the frequency of active commuting to school in the short-term. However, how the observed effects are after the intervention remains to be investigated. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of a school-based intervention on active commuting to school at 6-month follow-up

Supervised Exercise Immediately After Bariatric Surgery: the Study Protocol of the EFIBAR Randomized Controlled Trial

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO), Plan Nacional de I+D+i calls RETOS 2016 (reference DEP2016-74926-R) and RETOS 2018 (reference RTI2018-093302-A-I00). EM-R and MAI were funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (FPU18/01107 and FPU17/01158, respectively). AH-M and LL-S were funded by the predoctoral fellowship program of the University of Almeria. The funding sources approved this study although they had no role in the design and will not have any role during its execution, analyses and interpretation of the data, writing manuscripts, or decision to submit for publication.Background Previous studies have investigated weight loss caused by exercise following bariatric surgery. However, in most cases, the training programis poorly reported; the exercise type, volume, and intensity are briefly mentioned; and the sample size, selection criteria, and follow-up time vary greatly across studies. Purpose The EFIBAR study aims to investigate over 1 year the effects of a 16-week supervised exercise program, initiated immediately after bariatric surgery, on weight loss (primary outcome), body composition, cardiometabolic risk, physical fitness, and quality of life in patients with severe/extreme obesity. Material and Methods The EFIBAR study is a parallel-group, superiority, randomized controlled trial (RCT), comprising 80 surgery patients. Half of the participants, randomly selected, perform a 16-week supervised exercise program, including both strength and aerobic training, starting immediately after the surgery (7–14 days). For each participant, all primary and secondary outcomes are measured at three different time points: (i) before the surgery, (ii) after the intervention (≈4 months), and (iii) 1 year after the surgery.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO), Plan Nacional de I+D+i calls RETOS DEP2016-74926-R RTI2018-093302-A-I00Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities FPU18/01107 FPU17/01158predoctoral fellowship program of the University of Almeri

Physical fitness, rating perceived exertion and academic performance in primary school

Existen estudios que han conseguido establecer una relación entre el rendimiento cognitivo y académico de los alumnos y sus niveles de condición física. Los objetivos de esta investigación son estudiar la correlación existente entre el nivel de condición física y la composición corporal con el rendimiento académico, así como analizar la correlación entre dichas variables y la percepción subjetiva del esfuerzo (RPE) por género en alumnos de Educación Primaria. Un total de 69 alumnos de Educación Primaria participaron en el estudio (edad= 12,33±0,47 años, 55,9% niñas y 44,1% niños). La condición física y la composición corporal se evaluaron siguiendo los test de la ALPHA Fitness test Battery para niños y adolescentes. El rendimiento académico se estudió mediante el promedio de notas de las asignaturas instrumentales de Educación Primaria. La RPE se registró en las clases de EF y actividades físicas escolares mediante el uso de la escala RPE de Borg (0-10). Se establecieron correlaciones significativas entre la RPE y el peso de los chicos (r= 0,406, p= 0.02) y las chicas (r= 0,643, p&lt; 0.001) y también con respecto al IMC, chicos (r= 0,508, p= 0.004), chicas (r= 0,621, p&lt; 0.001). Existió una correlación negativa significativa entre el test de la Course Navette y la RPE en el caso de los niños (r= -0,633, p&lt; 0.001) y de las niñas (r= -0,452, p= 0.004). La RPE se correlacionó significativamente con los palieres del test de Course Navette (correlación inversa) y las variables antropométricas, como son el peso y el IMC.There are studies in which it has been possible to establish a relationship between the cognitive and academic performance of students and their levels of physical condition. The objectives of this research are to study the correlation between the physical fitness level and body composition with the academic performance, as well as to analyze the correlation between such variables and the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) of elementary school students by gender. A total of 69 primary school students participated in the study (age= 12.33±0.47 years, 55.9% girls and 44,1% boys). The physical fitness and body composition were evaluated according to the ALPHA Fitness test Battery for children and adolescents. The academic performance was studied by means of the average of notes of the instrumental subjects of primary education. The RPE was recorded in PE classes and school physical activities by using the Borg RPE scale (0-10). Significant correlations were established between the RPE and the weight of the boys (r= 0,406, p= 0.02) and girls (r= 0,643, p&lt; 0.001) and also with respect to the BMI, boys (r= 0,508, p= 0.004), girls (r= 0,621, p&lt; 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between the Course Navette test and the RPE in the case of boys (r= -0,633, p&lt; 0.001) and girls (r= -0,452, p= 0.004). The RPE correlated significantly with the stages of the Course Navette test (inverse correlation) and with the body composition variables, such as weight and BMI

Relationship between Sedentary Time, Physical Activity, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Spanish Children

Higher sedentary time and lower physical activity (PA) are associated with a poor healthrelated quality of life (HRQoL) in children. The aims of this study were: (1) to analyze the sedentary time, objectively measured PA levels (light, moderate, vigorous, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)), and HRQoL dimensions (physical well-being, emotional well-being, self-esteem, family, friends, school, and total score) in children; and (2) to examine the association between sedentary time, PA levels, and HRQoL in children separately by sex. A total of 459 children (8.4 ± 0.4 years old, 50.54% males) from 15 schools in Granada (Spain) participated in the study. A tri-axial accelerometer was used to measure PA levels in the children for 7 consecutive days. The Revidierter KINDer Lebensqualitätsfragebogen (KINDL-R) questionnaire was used to determine the children’s HRQoL dimensions. The results showed that males presented more minutes engaged in MVPA than females. Both sedentary time and PA levels were associated with self-esteem and total score (all p < 0.05). In males, moderate and vigorous PA levels were associated with higher HRQoL, whereas light PA was associated with higher HRQoL in females. Future studies should take into account the use of activities with difference intensities in order to increase HRQoL in males and females.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness DEP2015-63988-