ECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH10
INTRODUCTION: Physical fitness (PF) is a significant factor in children’s health and well-being [1]. Excess body weight is often linked to lower PF levels [2]. The extent to which this relationship persists after accounting for other relevant factors remains unclear. Hence, this cross-sectional study aimed to examine whether PF differs between normal-weight and overweight/obesity children in boys and girls after adjusting for age, fundamental movement skills (FMS), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). METHODS: A total of 1,031 children (52.9% girls) aged 6–10 years were randomly selected from schools in northern Portugal [3]. PF was assessed with five standardized tests: standing long jump, handgrip strength, shuttle run, 50-yard dash, and PACER. Body mass index was calculated, and children were classified as normal weight or with overweight/obesity using WHO cut-off points [4]. FMS was evaluated using five object control tasks [5]. MVPA was objectively assessed with accelerometry (Actigraph wGT3X-BT) over seven consecutive days. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used separately for girls and boys, with age, FMS, and MVPA as covariates. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, FMS, and MVPA, weight status differentiates PF multivariate profiles within each sex (girls: Wilks’ Lambda=0.749, p<0.001; boys: Wilks’ Lambda=0.751, p<0.001). More specifically, girls with overweight/obesity performed worse than their normal-weight peers in all PF tests (standing long jump: F=26.29, p<0.001; shuttle run: F=32.72, p<0.001; agility: F=27.16, p<0.001; PACER: F=43.18, p<0.001), except for handgrip strength (F=63.58, p<0.001), where they had higher values. A similar profile was observed in boys, with those with overweight/obesity being less fit in standing long jump (F=20.98, p<0.001), shuttle run (F=45.13, p<0.001), agility (F=19.17, p<0.001), and PACER (F=49.20, p<0.001), but stronger in handgrip strength compared to normal-weight peers (F=51.18, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study reinforces that even after adjusting for age, MVPA, and FMS, boys and girls with overweight and obesity are less physically fit than their normal-weight peers, except in handgrip strength. Excess weight is critical in determining PF levels, independent of other contributing factors. Therefore, we recommend implementing interventions combining weight management strategies with targeted efforts to enhance PF as early as possible, ensuring a holistic approach to improving childrens health and well-being. References: [1] Ortega et al. (2008); [2] Rico-González et al. (2024); [3] Pereira et al. (2024); [4] Onis, M., et al. (2007); [5] Garbeloto et al. (2024). This project was funded by the FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology Portugal (PTDC/SAU-DES/2286/2021).
Read CV Carla SantosECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH10
INTRODUCTION: Healthcare professionals (HPs) experience significant occupational stress, increasing their risk of burnout and mental health issues. Resilience—the ability to adapt to adversity—is critical for well-being. Self-care and physical activity (PA) are linked to lower stress and improved emotional regulation, yet HPs often struggle to engage in PA due to workload demands (1-3). While research highlights the role of self-care and PA in reducing burnout, their direct influence on resilience remains underexplored. This study explores their impact on HPs resilience in Northern Greece. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted (Sept-Dec 2023) with 438 HPs (mean age: 44.6±9.5 years, work experience: 16.4±9.7 years) from three public hospitals in Northern Greece (response rate: 79.6%). The sample included 200 physicians and 238 nurses. Participants were recruited via hospital website invitations and completed anonymous self-administered questionnaires: (a) demographic and professional characteristics, (b) the Self-Care Scale (Cronbach’s α > 0.90), (c) the IPAQ-SF for PA (MET-min/week), and (d) the CD-RISC-10 for resilience (Cronbach’s α = 0.895). Data analysis used SPSS v.29.0, including descriptive statistics, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for normality, Spearman’s correlation, and multivariate linear regression (significance level: p < 0.05). RESULTS: Resilience was moderate (CD-RISC-10: 26.8±6.46), while self-care levels were high (134.51±21.83). PA was classified as moderate (1364.8±1408.6 MET-min/week), with 36.8% reporting low PA, 46.2% moderate, and 16.9% high PA. Male HPs exhibited higher resilience than females (p=0.01). Resilience correlated positively with self-care (r=0.555, p<0.001) and PA (r=0.282, p=0.002). Multivariate regression identified gender, self-care, and PA as resilience predictors (F=25.177, p<0.001, R²=39.4%), with higher self-care and PA levels linked to greater resilience. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of self-care and PA in enhancing resilience among HPs. Higher self-care and PA levels were associated with greater resilience, reinforcing their protective effects against stress and burnout. The findings emphasise the need for structured PA programs and self-care initiatives to support HPs well-being. Future research should explore long-term interventions and policies promoting resilience in healthcare settings. References 1. McLaughlin, S.J., C.M. Connell, and M.R. Janevic, Gender Differences in Trajectories of Physical Activity Among Older Americans With Diabetes. J Aging Health, 2016. 28(3): p.460-80. 2. Balatoni, I., Szépné, H. V., Kiss, T., et al., The Importance of Physical Activity in Preventing Fatigue and Burnout in Healthcare Workers. Healthcare, 2023. 11(13): 1915. 3. Shahrbabaki, P. M., Abolghaseminejad, P., Lari, L. A., et al., The relationship between nurses psychological resilience and job satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic: a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study in Iran. BMC Nursing, 2023. 22(1): 137.
Read CV George PanayiotouECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH10
INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular (CV) health is impacted by a range of lifestyle behaviors, including sedentary behavior (SB), sleep (SL), and physical activity (PA). Arterial structure, function, and hemodynamics are key indicators of CV risk. Parameters such as arterial stiffness, central and brachial blood pressure, and arterial diameters are associated with long-term CV outcomes. However, the extent to which PA, SB, and SL influence these vascular parameters remains unclear. METHODS: In 233 healthy subjects (without physical limitations, known disease, or the use of medications with lipid-lowering, antihypertensive, or hypoglycemic effects), the following data were recorded: (1) weight, height, and body composition; (2) PA, SB, and SL assessed by accelerometry (recordings: 7 consecutive days, on wrist and waist; GT3X, ActiGraph, U.S.A.); and (3) at rest: (i) hemodynamic characteristics (aortic and brachial blood pressure [techniques: applanation tonometry and oscillometry]), (ii) structural characteristics (diameters and wall thickness of carotid, femoral, and brachial arteries [technique: ultrasound]), and (iii) functional characteristics (aortic, carotid, femoral, and brachial stiffness [techniques: pulse wave velocity; applanation tonometry and ultrasound]) of the CV system. A stepwise analysis was conducted: (1) The association between PA, SB, and SL variables with levels of exposure to cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) was quantified, as well as the association between CV characteristics and levels of exposure to CRF. (2) CV variables were standardized to z-scores using the mean and standard deviation obtained from a reference subgroup that had no exposure to traditional CRF. (3) After quantifying the degree of association between z-scores of CV variables and CRF, multiple linear regression models were constructed using CV z-scores as the dependent variable and PA, SB, SL, and CRF as independent variables. RESULTS: Arterial structural variables showed a stronger association with physical activity, particularly with vigorous physical activity and step count. Specifically, femoral diameter was positively related to average step count and energy expenditure. Additionally, significant relationships were observed with parameters related to sedentary break interruptions and sleep duration. Local arterial stiffness was more closely associated with sedentary behavior and sleep, showing that greater sleep efficiency and less sedentary time were linked to lower arterial stiffness. At the regional arterial stiffness level, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was associated with both PA and sleep efficiency. Specifically, more time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA and higher activity counts were associated with lower arterial stiffness, whereas greater sleep fragmentation showed an inverse relationship. Hemodynamic variables, including brachial and central blood pressure, were primarily associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. CONCLUSION: Physical activity, especially higher-intensity activity, was associated with better arterial structural and functional characteristics. Sedentary behavior and sleep showed relationships with local and regional arterial stiffness. Blood pressure was mainly linked to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sleep parameters.
Read CV Angela Mariana Gomez GarciaECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH10