Search

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the bidirectional longitudinal associations of several markers of fatness and physical fitness in adolescents with Down syndrome., Methods: This study comprised a total of 111 adolescents (41 females), aged from 11 to 20 years with complete data at the baseline. We had a drop-out of <10% from the baseline to the 2-year follow-up. The ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for youth was used., Results: Our results show that all fatness variables at the baseline were associated with a 2-year change in cardiorespiratory fitness (β ranging from -0.32 to -0.38; all p < .05), but not with muscular and motor fitness (p > .05). However, no associations were found between physical fitness components as predictors and fatness indicators (p > .05)., Conclusions: Results suggest that reducing fatness during adolescence might represent a modifiable factor to improve cardiorespiratory fitness at the 2-year follow-up, but not vice versa since associations were not bidirectional., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction: Correlates of physical activity (PA) have not been explored in adolescents with Down syndrome (DS). Understanding correlates of PA could provide information to develop strategies to increase levels of PA in this target population., Objective: The aim of this study was to identify potential correlates of PA in adolescents with DS., Method: Information about levels of PA and their potential correlates was collected in 98 adolescents with DS (63 males, aged 11-20 years) using accelerometers and proxy-reported questionnaires. Analysis of covariance and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine correlates of PA., Result: Our findings showed that participant's age and socioeconomic status were associated with levels of PA as non-modifiable correlates. Also, parental support, father PA, television-viewing time with siblings and with friends were associated with levels of PA as modifiable correlates., Discussion and Conclusion: Both modifiable and non-modifiable factors are associated with levels of PA in adolescents with DS. Therefore, a better understanding of correlates of PA could contribute to develop strategies on PA promotion in adolescents with DS., (Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to identify potential correlates of sedentary time and television (TV) viewing time in youth with Down syndrome (DS). A total of 98 adolescents with DS (63 males) aged 11-20 years old participated in this study. Total sedentary time was measured using accelerometers, while total TV viewing time and potential correlates were measured using proxy-report questionnaire. Analyses of covariance and a stepwise multiple linear regression were performed to examine correlates of total sedentary time and total TV viewing time. Different potential correlates were associated with total sedentary time (mother age, mother TV viewing time, perceived benefits of physical activity, birth order and having nearby shops in the neighbourhood) and total TV viewing time (father TV viewing time, TV viewing time with parents, family dietary habits during watching TV and weekend days time indoor). The identification of correlates associated with sedentary behaviour, principally those considered modifiable such as social and environmental factors, may contribute to development strategies to decrease sedentary behaviour in adolescents with DS and consequently promote a healthier lifestyle.

Introduction: "Obesity" is considered a feature of youth with DS but whether "low physical fitness" is also a feature is unknown., Objective: The aim of this case-control study was to compare the levels of fatness and fitness in adolescents with and without DS., Methods: Participants included 17 (5 girls) adolescents with DS aged 12-18 years and a control group of 94 (45 girls) adolescents without DS aged 12-16 years. The ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for children and adolescents was selected to assess fatness and fitness in both groups., Results: There were no differences in levels of fatness between groups (all P > 0.27). Adolescents with DS had lower levels of fitness in all the tests than adolescents without DS (all P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Adolescents with DS have similar levels of fatness and lower levels of fitness than their peers without DS., (Copyright © AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2013. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the bidirectional longitudinal associations of several markers of fatness and physical fitness in adolescents with Down syndrome. Methods: This study comprised a total of 111 adolescents (41 females), aged from 11 to 20 years with complete data at the baseline. We had a drop-out of <10% from the baseline to the 2-year follow-up. The ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for youth was used. Results: Our results show that all fatness variables at the baseline were associated with a 2-year change in cardiorespiratory fitness ([beta] ranging from -0.32 to -0.38; all p < 0.05), but not with muscular and motor fitness (p > 0.05). However, no associations were found between physical fitness components as predictors and fatness indicators (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Results suggest that reducing fatness during adolescence might represent a modifiable factor to improve cardiorespiratory fitness at the 2-year follow-up, but not vice versa since associations were not bidirectional. [This article was written on behalf of the UP, DOWN study group.]

The aims of this study were to examine cross-sectional, and longitudinal association of different measures of obesity and physical fitness with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in adolescents with Down syndrome. Longitudinal analysis included 90 adolescents with Down syndrome. Obesity and physical fitness were measured following the ALPHA battery. Blood pressure and blood samplings (glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and serum lipid triglycerides levels (mg/dl) were determinated. In cross-sectional analyses, obesity was positively associated with single CVD risk factors and CVD risk factor index (all p <.05). In the prospective analyses, obesity was not associated with single CVD risk factors, but components of physical fitness at baseline impact in some single CVD risk factors (all p <.05). Obesity might be more strongly related to current cardiovascular-health, while components of physical fitness might be more related to future cardiovascular-health in adolescents with Down syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the association between high-quality diet (using the Mediterranean diet (MD) as an example) and well-being cross-sectionally and prospectively in Spanish children and adolescents. Participants included 533 children and 987 adolescents at baseline and 527 children and 798 adolescents at 2-year follow-up, included in the UP&DOWN study (follow-up in schoolchildren and adolescents with and without Down's syndrome). The present study excluded participants with Down's syndrome. Adherence to an MD was assessed using the KIDMED index. Well-being was measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and the KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaire. Associations between MD adherence and well-being were assessed using multi-level, mixed-effects linear regression. At baseline, MD adherence was positively related to health-related quality of life in secondary school girls and boys (β =0·41, se 0·10, P <0·001; β =0·46, se 0·10, P <0·001, respectively) and to positive affect in secondary school girls and boys (β =0·16, se 0·05, P =0·006; β =0·20, se 0·05, P <0·001, respectively) and in primary school boys (β =0·20, se 0·08, P =0·019). At 2-year follow-up, MD adherence was negatively related to negative affect in secondary school adolescent girls and boys (β =–0·15, se 0·07, P =0·047; β =–0·16, se 0·06, P =0·019, respectively), and MD adherence was associated with higher positive affect scores in secondary school girls (β =0·30, se 0·06, P <0·001) and in primary school boys (β =0·20, se 0·09, P =0·023). However, MD adherence at baseline did not predict well-being indicators at 2-year follow-up. In conclusion, higher MD adherence was found to behave as a protective factor for positive well-being in cross-sectional analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to examine the associations of objectively measured physical activity (PA) with several markers of fatness and fitness in a relatively large sample of adolescents with Down syndrome (DS). This study comprised a total of 100 adolescents with DS (37 females) aged 11-20 years-old, and a sex-matched sample of 100 adolescents without disabilities, participating in the UP&DOWN study. The ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for adolescents was used to assess fatness and fitness. PA was measured by accelerometry. Adolescents with DS had higher fatness and significantly lower fitness levels in all variables measured than adolescents without DS (all p<0.05). Moderate-to-large effects were observed in fatness variables (d=0.65-1.42), but particularly large values were found in fitness variables (d=2.05-2.43). In addition, PA levels was not associated with fatness variables, whereas total PA and vigorous PA were associated with all fitness variables (p<0.05), and moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA) was associated with muscular fitness (p<0.05), after adjusting for potential confounders. Further analysis revealed that there were differences in fitness by tertiles of vigorous PA between the lowest and the highest groups in all fitness variables (all p<0.05). However, no significant differences were found in fitness by tertiles of MVPA according with PA guidelines (≥60min in MVPA). Our findings indicate that PA levels are not associated with fatness variables, whereas high PA levels, in particular vigorous PA, are positively associated with high fitness in adolescents with DS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]