Role of socio-cultural factors on changes in fitness and adiposity in youth: a 6-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
Optimal cardio-respiratory fitness and adiposity levels are tightly related to health in youth. We analysed changes in fitness and adiposity in young individuals from two countries, and examined the role of maternal education in these changes.


RESULTS
A 6-year follow-up study was conducted on 483 Estonian children (9 years) and 466 Swedish children (9-10 years) and adolescents (15 years). Fitness was assessed by a maximal bike test, and total and central adiposity were indirectly estimated by skinfolds (Slaughter's equation for fat mass) and waist circumference. At follow-up, fitness and adiposity had increased in the children cohort (P ≤ 0.001), while small or no change occurred in the adolescent cohort. In the children cohort, Estonian participants had a lower increase in fitness and a higher increase in adiposity (total and central) than Swedish participants. Higher maternal education increased the odds of remaining fit (top quartile) by half and reduced the risk of remaining fat (top quartile) by half; odds ratios = 1.56 (1.00-2.43), 0.50 (0.32-0.77) and 0.61 (0.39-0.94) for fitness, total and central adiposity, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that the socioeconomic situation of a country might influence key cardiovascular risk factors (fitness and adiposity), being at higher risk for a low-middle income country (Estonia) than a higher income country (Sweden). The findings stress the role of socioeconomic status, particularly maternal education, in the maintenance of healthy fitness and adiposity levels from childhood into later life. Preventive efforts have to be taken from early age.
Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at NOVUM, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Department of Physical Education and Sport, School of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. Electronic address: ortegaf@ugr.es.
F B
FB
Ortega
J R
JR
Ruiz
I
I
Labayen
A
A
Hurtig-Wennlöf
J
J
Harro
L
L
Kwak
L
L
Oja
L
L
Merenäkk
T
T
Veidebaum
M
M
Sjöström
D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004957:Estonia; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden; D055105:Waist Circumference; D044465:White People