Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to examine the association between muscular fitness (MF), assessed by 2 components of Fitnessgram test battery, the Curl-Up and Push-Ups tests and the metabolic risk score among adolescent girls.MethodsA total of 229 girls (aged 12-15 years old) comprised the sample of this study. Anthropometric data (height, body mass, waist circumference) were collected. Body mass index (BMI) was also calculated. Muscular strength was assessed taking into account the tests that comprised the FITNESSGRAM test battery, i.e. the curl-up and the push-up. Participants were then categorized in one of 3 categories according the number of tests in which they accomplished the scores that allow them to be classified in health or above health zone. The blood pressure [BP], fasting total cholesterol [TC], low density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C], high density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C], triglycerides [TG], glucose, and a metabolic risk score (MRS) were also examined. Physical Activity Index (PAI) was obtained by questionnaire.ResultsHigher compliance with health-zone criteria (good in the 2 tests), adjusted for age and maturation, were positive and significantly (p ≤ 0.05) associated with height (r = 0.19) and PAI (r = 0.21), while a significant but negative association was found for BMI (r = -0.12); WC (r = -0.19); TC (r = -0.16); TG (r = -0.16); LDL (r = -0.16) and MRS (r = -0.16). Logistic regression showed that who were assigned to MF fittest group were less likely (OR = 0.27; p = 0.003) to be classified overweight/obese and less likely (OR = 0.26; p = 0.03) to be classified as having MRS. This last association was also found for those whom only performed 1 test under the health zone (OR = 0.23; p = 0.02).ConclusionsOur data showed that low strength test performance was associated with increased risk for obesity and metabolic risk in adolescent girls even after adjustment for age and maturation.

Highlights

  • A lack of physical fitness (PF) has been associated with the development of cardiovascular disease risk factors (CVD) in youth, such as lipid disorders, high blood pressure, insulin resistance among others [1]

  • Fitnessgram test battery is included in the national curriculum; participation was voluntary for all evaluations

  • Girls with better muscular fitness (MF) profile, where significantly taller, had low Body mass index (BMI), had better lipid profile (TC, TG), were more active and had a better metabolic risk score (MRS) than their less fit (MF0) counterparts, after adjustments for age and maturation

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Summary

Introduction

A lack of physical fitness (PF) has been associated with the development of cardiovascular disease risk factors (CVD) in youth, such as lipid disorders, high blood pressure, insulin resistance among others [1]. This is a cause of concern because CVD risk factors tend to track to adulthood [2] and the process of atherosclerosis starts early in childhood [3]. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between muscular fitness (MF), assessed by 2 components of Fitnessgram test battery, the Curl-Up and Push-Ups tests and the metabolic risk score among adolescent girls

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