Open Access
A narrative review of motor competence in children and adolescents: what we know and what we need to find out
(MDPI, 2021) Lopes, Luís; Santos, Rute; Coelho e Silva, Manuel; Draper, Catherine; Mota, Jorge; Jidovtseff, Boris; Ramírez Vélez, Robinson; Clark, Cain; Schmidt, Mirko; Morgan, Philip; Duncan, Michael; O’Brien, Wesley; Bentsen, Peter; D´Hondt, Eva; Houwen, Suzanne; Stratton, Gareth; De Martelaer, Kristine; Scheuer, Claude; Herrmann, Christian; García Hermoso, Antonio; Palmeira, António; Gerlach, Erin; Rosário, Rafaela; Issartel, Johann; Esteban Cornejo, Irene; Ruiz, Jonatan R.; Veldman, Sanne; Zhang, Zhiguang; Colella, Dario; Póvoas, Susana; Haibach-Beach, Pamela; Pereira, João; McGrane, Bronagh; Saraiva, João; Temple, Viviene; Silva, Pedro; Sigmund, Erik; Sousa-Sá, Eduarda; Adamakis, Manolis; Moreira, Carla; Utesch, Till; True, Larissa; Cheung, Peggy; Carcamo Oyarzun, Jaime; Charitou, Sophia; Chillón, Palma; Robazza, Claudio; Silva, Ana; Silva, Danilo R.; Lima, Rodrigo; Mourão-Carvalhal, Isabel; Khodaverdi, Zeinab; Zequinão, Marcela; Pereira, Beatriz; Prista, Antonio; Agostinis-Sobrinho, César; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Lack of physical activity is a global public health problem causing not only morbidity and premature mortality, but it is also a major economic burden worldwide. One of the cornerstones of a physically active lifestyle is motor competence (MC). MC is a complex biocultural attribute and therefore, its study requires a multi-sectoral, multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary approach. MC is a growing area of research, especially in children and adolescents due to its positive association with a plethora of health and developmental outcomes. Many questions, however, remain to be answered in this field of research, with regard to: (i) Health and Developmental-related Associations of MC; (ii) Assessment of MC; (iii) Prevalence and Trends of MC; (iv) Correlates and Determinants of MC; (v) MC Interventions, and (vi) Translating MC Research into Practice and Policy. This paper presents a narrative review of the literature, summarizing current knowledge, identifying key research gaps and presenting questions for future investigation on MC in children and adolescents. This is a collaborative effort from the International Motor Competence Network (IMCNetwork) a network of academics and researchers aiming to promote international collaborative research and knowledge translation in the expansive field of MC. The knowledge and deliverables generated by addressing and answering the aforementioned research questions on MC presented in this review have the potential to shape the ways in which researchers and practitioners promote MC and physical activity in children and adolescents across the world.
Open Access
Top 10 international priorities for physical fitness research and surveillance among children and adolescents: a twin-panel Delphi study
(Springer, 2022) Lang, Justin J.; Zhang, Kai; Agostinis-Sobrinho, César; Andersen, Lars Bo; Basterfield, Laura; Berglind, Daniel; Blain, Dylan O.; Cadenas-Sánchez, Cristina; Cameron, Christine; Carson, Valerie; Colley, Rachel C.; Csányi, Tamás; Faigenbaum, Avery D.; García Hermoso, Antonio; Queiroz Ferreira Gomes, Thayse Natacha; Gribbon, Aidan; Janssen, Ian; Jurak, Gregor; Kaj, Mónika; Kidokoro, Tetsuhiro; Lane, Kirstin N.; Liu, Yang; Löf, Marie; Lubans, David R.; Magnussen, Costan G.; Manyanga, Taru; McGrath, Ryan; Mota, Jorge; Olds, Tim; Onywera, Vincent O.; Ortega, Francisco B.; Oyeyemi, Adewale L.; Prince, Stephanie A.; Ramírez Vélez, Robinson; Roberts, Karen C.; Rubín, Lukáš; Servais, Jennifer; Silva, Diego Augusto Santos; Silva, Danilo R.; Smith, Jordan J.; Song, Yi; Stratton, Gareth; Timmons, Brian W.; Tomkinson, Grant R.; Tremblay, Mark S.; Wong, Stephen H. S.; Fraser, Brooklyn J.; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background The measurement of physical ftness has a history that dates back nearly 200 years. Recently, there has been an increase in international research and surveillance on physical ftness creating a need for setting international priorities that could help guide future eforts. Objective This study aimed to produce a list of the top 10 international priorities for research and surveillance on physical ftness among children and adolescents. Methods Using a twin-panel Delphi method, two independent panels consisting of 46 international experts were identifed (panel 1=28, panel 2=18). The panel participants were asked to list up to fve priorities for research or surveillance (round 1), and then rated the items from their own panel on a 5-point Likert scale of importance (round 2). In round 3, experts were asked to rate the priorities identifed by the other panel. Results There was strong between-panel agreement (panel 1: rs=0.76, p<0.01; panel 2: rs=0.77, p<0.01) in the priorities identifed. The list of the fnal top 10 priorities included (i) “conduct longitudinal studies to assess changes in ftness and associations with health”. This was followed by (ii) “use ftness surveillance to inform decision making”, and (iii) “implement regular and consistent international/national ftness surveys using common measures”. Conclusions The priorities identifed in this study provide guidance for future international collaborations and research eforts on the physical ftness of children and adolescents over the next decade and beyond.
Open Access
Role of sleep duration and sleep-related problems in the metabolic syndrome among children and adolescents
(BMC, 2018) Pulido-Arjona, Leonardo; Correa Bautista, Jorge Enrique; Agostinis-Sobrinho, César; Mota, Jorge; Santos, Rute; Correa Rodríguez, María; García Hermoso, Antonio; Ramírez Vélez, Robinson; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background: There is increasing recognition that sleep is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between self-reported sleep duration, sleep-related problems and the presence of MetS in children and adolescents from Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis from the FUPRECOL study (2014-15). Participants included 2779 (54.2% girls) youth from Bogota (Colombia). MetS was defined as the presence of ¿3 of the metabolic abnormalities (hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-c], hypertension, and increased waist circumference) according to the criteria of de Ferranti/Magge and colleges. Self-reported sleep duration and sleep-related problems were assessed with the BEARS questionnaire. Results: Logistic regression analysis showed that boys who meet recommended duration of sleep had a decreased risk of elevated blood glucose levels (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.71, 95%CI [0.40-0.94]; p = 0.031) compared to boys who have short-long sleep duration. Also, compared to young without sleep problems, excessive sleepiness during the day was related to low HDL-c levels in boys (OR = 1.36, 95%CI [1.02-1.83]; p = 0.036) and high triglyceride levels in girls (OR = 1.28, 95%CI [1.01-1.63]; p = 0.045). Girls with irregular sleep patterns had decreased HDL-c levels (OR = 0.71, 95%CI [0.55-0.91]; p = 0.009). Conclusions: Recommended sleep duration was associated with a decreased risk of elevated fasting glucose levels in boys, and sleep problems was related to lower HDL-c in girls and higher triglyceride levels in boys. These findings suggested the clinical importance of improving sleep hygiene to reduce metabolic risk factors in children and adolescents.
Open Access
Pubertal stage, body mass index, and cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents in Bogotá, Colombia: the cross-sectional FUPRECOL study
(MDPI, 2017) Ramírez Vélez, Robinson; García Hermoso, Antonio; Agostinis-Sobrinho, César; Mota, Jorge; Santos, Rute; Correa Bautista, Jorge Enrique; Peña-Guzmán, Carlos Andrés; Domínguez Sánchez, María Andrea; Schmidt Río-Valle, Jacqueline; González Jiménez, Emilio; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
This study explored the association between pubertal stage and anthropometric and cardiometabolic risk factors in youth. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2877 Colombian children and adolescents (9¿17.9 years of age). Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. A biochemical study was performed to determine the cardiometabolic risk index (CMRI). Blood pressure was evaluated and pubertal stage was assessed with the Tanner criteria. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed. The most significant variable (p < 0.05) in the prognosis of cardiometabolic risk was found to be the BMI in both boys and girls. In the case of girls, the pubertal stage was also a CMRI predictive factor. In conclusion, BMI was an important indicator of cardiovascular risk in both sexes. Pubertal stage was associated with cardiovascular risk only in the girls.
Open Access
Exercise, adipokines and pediatric obesity: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
(Newman Publishing Ltd, 2017) García Hermoso, Antonio; Ceballos-Ceballos, R. J. M.; Poblete-Aro, C. E.; Hackney, Anthony C.; Mota, Jorge; Ramírez Vélez, Robinson; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background/Objective:Adipokines are involved in the etiology of diabetes, insulin resistance, and the development of atherosclerosis and other latent-onset complications. The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine the effectiveness of exercise interventions on adipokines in pediatric obesity.Subjects/Methods:A computerized search was made using three databases. The analysis was restricted to studies that examined the effect of exercise interventions on adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, resistin and visfatin) in pediatric obesity (6-18 years old). Fourteen randomized controlled trials (347 youths) were included. Weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.Results:Exercise was associated with a significant increase in adiponectin (WMD=0.882 ¿g ml -1, 95% CI, 0.271-1.493) but did not alter leptin and resistin level. Likewise, exercise intensity and change in body fat; as well as total exercise program duration, duration of the sessions, and change in body fat all significantly influenced the effect of exercise on adiponectin and leptin, respectively.Conclusions:Exercise seems to increase adiponectin levels in childhood obesity. Our results also suggested that exercise on its own, without the concomitant presence of changes in body composition levels, does not affect leptin levels.
Open Access
Optimal adherence to a mediterranean diet may not overcome the deleterious effects of low physical fitness on cardiovascular disease risk in adolescents: a cross-sectional pooled analysis
(MDPI, 2018) Agostinis-Sobrinho, César; Santos, Rute; Rosário, Rafaela; Moreira, Carla; Lopes, Luís; Mota, Jorge; Martinkenas, Arvydas; García Hermoso, Antonio; Correa Bautista, Jorge Enrique; Ramírez Vélez, Robinson; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
To examine the combined association of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular fitness (MF), and adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MeDiet) on cardiovascular risk in adolescents, a pooled study, including cross-sectional data from two projects [2477 adolescents (1320 girls) aged 12-18 years], was completed. A shuttle run test was used to assess CRF. MF was assessed by the standing-long jump and handgrip tests. Adherence to a MeDiet was assessed by the Kidmed questionnaire. A cardiovascular risk score was computed from the following components: Age and sex, waist circumference, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and glucose. Analysis of covariance showed that participants classified as having optimal (High) adherence to a MeDiet/HighMF/HighCRF, as well those classified as low adherence to a MeDiet/HighMF/HighCRF, had, on average, the lowest cardiovascular risk score (F = 15.6; p < 0.001). In addition, the high adherence to a MeDiet/LowMF/LowCRF group had the highest odds of having a high cardiovascular risk (OR = 7.1; 95% CI: 3.4-15.1; p < 0.001), followed by the low adherence to a MeDiet/LowMF/LowCRF group (OR = 3.7; 95% CI: 2.2-6.3; p < 0.001), high adherence to a MeDiet/HighMF/LowCRF group (OR = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.4-7.0; p = 0.006), and low adherence to a MeDiet/LowMF/HighCRF group (OR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.5-4.4; p = 0.002) when compared to those with high adherence to a MeDiet/HighMF/HighCRF, after adjustments for potential confounders. In conclusion, our findings showed that, regardless of the MeDiet status, adolescents with low MF and low CRF cumulatively, presented the highest cardiovascular disease risk. Therefore, these findings suggest that the combination of these two fitness components may be beneficial to adolescents¿ cardiometabolic profile, independent of MeDiet behaviour.