Open Access
Active commuting to and from university, obesity and metabolic syndrome among Colombian university students
(BioMed Central, 2018) García Hermoso, Antonio; Quintero, Andrea P.; Hernández, Enrique; Izquierdo Redín, Mikel; Ramírez Vélez, Robinson; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background: There is limited evidence concerning how active commuting (AC) is associated with health benefits in young. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between AC to and from campus (walking) and obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a sample of Colombian university students. Methods: A total of 784 university students (78.6% women, mean age = 20.1 ± 2.6 years old) participated in the study. The exposure variable was categorized into AC (active walker to campus) and non-AC (non/infrequent active walker to campus: car, motorcycle, or bus) to and from the university on a typical day. MetS was defined in accordance with the updated harmonized criteria of the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Results: The overall prevalence of MetS was 8.7%, and it was higher in non-AC than AC to campus. The percentage of AC was 65.3%. The commuting distances in this AC from/to university were 83.1%, 13.4% and 3.5% for < 2 km, 2-5 km and > 5 km, respectively. Multiple logistic regressions for predicting unhealthy profile showed that male walking commuters had a lower probability of having obesity [OR = 0.45 (CI 95% 0.25–0.93)], high blood pressure [OR = 0.26 (CI 95% 0.13–0.55)] and low HDL cholesterol [OR = 0.29 (CI 95% 0.14–0.59)] than did passive commuters. Conclusions: Our results suggest that in young adulthood, a key life-stage for the development of obesity and MetS, AC could be associated with and increasing of daily physical activity levels, thereby promoting better cardiometabolic health.
Open Access
Handgrip strength cutoff for cardiometabolic risk index among colombian children and adolescents: the FUPRECOL study
(Springer Nature, 2017) Peña Ibagon, Jhonatan Camilo; Martínez Torres, Javier; Tordecilla Sanders, Alejandra; Correa Bautista, Jorge Enrique; Lobelo, Felipe; García Hermoso, Antonio; Ramírez Vélez, Robinson; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Evidence shows an association between muscular strength (MS) and health among young people, however low muscular strength cut points for the detection of high metabolic risk in Latin-American populations are scarce. The aim of this study was twofold: to explore potential age- and sex-specific thresholds of MS, for optimal cardiometabolic risk categorization among Colombian children and adolescents; and to investigate whether cardiometabolic risk differed by MS group by applying the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) cut point. MS was estimated by using a handle dynamometer on 1,950 children and adolescents from Colombia, using MS relative to weight (handgrip strength/body mass). A metabolic risk score was computed from the following components: waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL-c, glucose, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. ROC analysis showed a significant discriminatory accuracy of MS in identifying the low/high metabolic risk in children and adolescents and in both genders. In children, the handgrip strength/body mass levels for a low metabolic risk were 0.359 and 0.376 in girls and boys, respectively. In adolescents, these points were 0.440 and 0.447 in girls and boys, respectively. In conclusion, the results suggest an MS level relative to weight for having a low metabolic risk, which could be used to identify youths at risk.
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
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
Muscle strength cut-offs for the detection of metabolic syndrome in a nonrepresentative sample of collegiate students from Colombia
(Elsevier, 2018) García Hermoso, Antonio; Tordecilla Sanders, Alejandra; Correa Bautista, Jorge Enrique; Peterson, Mark Dean; Izquierdo Redín, Mikel; Quino Ávila, Aura Cristina; Sandoval Cuellar, Carolina; González Ruiz, Katherine; Ramírez Vélez, Robinson; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background: Evidence shows an association between grip strength and health; however, grip strength cut-offs for the detection of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Latin American populations are scarce. The purpose of this study was to determine cut-offs of normalized grip strength (NGS) for the detection of MetS in a large nonrepresentative sample of a collegiate student population from Colombia. Methods: A total of 1795 volunteers (61.4% female, age = 20.68 ± 3.10 years, mean ± SD), ranging between 18 and 30 years of age participated in the study. Strength was estimated using a handheld dynamometer and normalized to body mass (handgrip strength (kg)/body mass (kg)). Anthropometrics, serum lipids indices, blood pressure, and fasting plasma glucose were measured. Body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. MetS was defined as including ≥3 of the 5 metabolic abnormalities according to the International Diabetes Federation definition. A metabolic risk score was computed from the following components: waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Results: Receiver operating curve analysis showed significant discriminatory accuracy of NGS in identifying the thresholds and risk categories. Lower strength was associated with increased prevalence of MetS. In males, weak, intermediate, and strong NGS values at these points were <0.466, 0.466–0.615, >0.615, respectively. In females, these cut-off points were <0.332, 0.332–0.437, >0.437, respectively. Conclusion: Our sex-specific cut-offs of NGS could be incorporated into a clinical setting for identifying college students at cardiometabolic disease risk.
Open Access
Normal-weight obesity is associated with poorer cardiometabolic profile and lower physical fitness levels in children and adolescents
(MDPI, 2020) García Hermoso, Antonio; Agostinis-Sobrinho, César; Camargo Villalba, Gloria Eugenia; González Jiménez, Nubia Mercedes; Izquierdo Redín, Mikel; Correa Bautista, Jorge Enrique; Ramírez Vélez, Robinson; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Normal-weight obesity (NWO) syndrome has been shown to be associated with cardiometabolic dysfunction. However, little is known regarding this potential relationship in Latin American children and adolescents. The aim of this study was two-fold: (i) to investigate whether Colombian youth with NWO syndrome have a poorer cardiometabolic profile and physical fitness performance than normal-weight lean (NWL) peers; and (ii) to determine if physical fitness levels are related to prevalence of normal-weight obesity in youth. This was an analytical cross-sectional study of 1919 youths (9–179 years old, 53.0% girls) in the capital area of Colombia. NWO was defined as a body mass index < 25 kg/m2 and a validated body fat percentage above the sex-age-specific 90th percentile for Colombian children and adolescents. Body fat was estimated using bioelectrical impedance analysis, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was estimated using the 20-meter shuttle run test, and muscular fitness with the handgrip test. Biochemical profile blood samples were collected for cardiometabolic risk factors. After adjusting for chronological age, pubertal stage, and Mediterranean diet adherence, the NWO group (boys and girls) had significantly higher values for cardiometabolic risk factors, and waist circumference (WC) than the NWL group. The prevalence of NWO was lower in youth classified with healthy CRF (boys, odds ratio (OR) = 0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.37 to 0.78; girls, OR = 0.35, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.50), p < 0.001. Our findings indicate that using only body mass index for the assessment of cardiometabolic risk likely misrepresents true adiposity and suggest the need to include the assessment of body fat in the routine clinical evaluation of individuals during childhood and adolescence.