Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Obesity and Physical Activity in Schoolchildren: The Effect of Mediation. 2022

Noelia González-Gálvez, and Jose Carlos Ribeiro, and Jorge Mota
Sports Injury Prevention Research Group, Facultad de Deporte, UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain.

There are only a few studies that have examined the interaction between physical activity (PA), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and overweightness/obesity in adolescents, and these studies have shown some limitations. The objective of this study was to examine whether the association between PA (moderate-vigorous PA [MVPA], moderate PA [MPA], and vigorous PA [VPA]) and obesity is mediated by CRF. This cross-sectional study was conducted in six middle and high-schools in the Porto district (Portugal), comprising 632 children and adolescents. Fat mass (FM), CRF, MVPA, MPA, and VPA were assessed. The Process macro for SPSS was used. CRF was significantly associated with PA for both children and adolescents. Likewise, FM was negatively and significantly associated with CRF for both children (β = -0.337) and adolescents (β = -0.255). FM was associated with PA in children (MVPA: β = -0.102; MPA: β = -0.118; VPA: β = -0.305) and adolescents (MVPA: β: -0.103; MPA: β = -0.082; VPA: β = -0.204). The mediation analysis showed that the association between PA (MVPA//MPA/VPA) and obesity was mediated by CRF, in both children and adolescents, with a significant value in the Sobel test. Obesity is associated with CRF and MVPA, MPA, and VPA. However, CRF acted as a complete mediator between the association of obesity and PA.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009765 Obesity A status with BODY WEIGHT that is grossly above the recommended standards, usually due to accumulation of excess FATS in the body. The standards may vary with age, sex, genetic or cultural background. In the BODY MASS INDEX, a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 is considered obese, and a BMI greater than 40.0 kg/m2 is considered morbidly obese (MORBID OBESITY).
D010809 Physical Fitness The ability to carry out daily tasks and perform physical activities in a highly functional state, often as a result of physical conditioning. Fitness, Physical
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D003430 Cross-Sectional Studies Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time. Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000072599 Cardiorespiratory Fitness A measure of the functional capabilities of the heart, lungs and muscles, relative to the demands of specific exercise routines such as running or cycling. Fitness, Cardiorespiratory
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D015444 Exercise Physical activity which is usually regular and done with the intention of improving or maintaining PHYSICAL FITNESS or HEALTH. Contrast with PHYSICAL EXERTION which is concerned largely with the physiologic and metabolic response to energy expenditure. Aerobic Exercise,Exercise, Aerobic,Exercise, Isometric,Exercise, Physical,Isometric Exercise,Physical Activity,Acute Exercise,Exercise Training,Activities, Physical,Activity, Physical,Acute Exercises,Aerobic Exercises,Exercise Trainings,Exercise, Acute,Exercises,Exercises, Acute,Exercises, Aerobic,Exercises, Isometric,Exercises, Physical,Isometric Exercises,Physical Activities,Physical Exercise,Physical Exercises,Training, Exercise,Trainings, Exercise
D050177 Overweight A status with BODY WEIGHT that is above certain standards. In the scale of BODY MASS INDEX, overweight is defined as having a BMI of 25.0-29.9 kg/m2. Overweight may or may not be due to increases in body fat (ADIPOSE TISSUE), hence overweight does not equal "over fat".

Related Publications

Noelia González-Gálvez, and Jose Carlos Ribeiro, and Jorge Mota
June 2022, International journal of sports medicine,
Noelia González-Gálvez, and Jose Carlos Ribeiro, and Jorge Mota
February 2011, Preventive medicine,
Noelia González-Gálvez, and Jose Carlos Ribeiro, and Jorge Mota
October 2012, Salud publica de Mexico,
Noelia González-Gálvez, and Jose Carlos Ribeiro, and Jorge Mota
January 2004, Journal of occupational and environmental medicine,
Noelia González-Gálvez, and Jose Carlos Ribeiro, and Jorge Mota
July 2014, The Journal of pediatrics,
Noelia González-Gálvez, and Jose Carlos Ribeiro, and Jorge Mota
January 2006, American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council,
Noelia González-Gálvez, and Jose Carlos Ribeiro, and Jorge Mota
July 2019, Nutrients,
Noelia González-Gálvez, and Jose Carlos Ribeiro, and Jorge Mota
November 2018, Medicine and science in sports and exercise,
Noelia González-Gálvez, and Jose Carlos Ribeiro, and Jorge Mota
January 2022, BMJ open sport & exercise medicine,
Noelia González-Gálvez, and Jose Carlos Ribeiro, and Jorge Mota
June 2023, Research quarterly for exercise and sport,
Copied contents to your clipboard!