title: Evaluation of metabolic risk in prepubertal girls versus boys in relation to fitness and physical activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and physical activity (PA) are associated with a risk of the development of metabolic syndrome. Contradictory findings are reported in the literature regarding the influence of sex and CRF and PA on metabolic changes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of CRF and PA on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism biomarkers in boys and girls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 82 prepubertal boys and 55 girls (7-12 years of age) were classified according to sex, low or high CRF, and performance or nonperformance of PA. Anthropometric and blood pressure (BP) measurements, plasma lipid profile values, glucose and insulin levels, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of boys with high CRF and performance of PA was higher than that of girls (P < 0.05). When children of the same sex were compared, higher values for body mass index and waist circumference z-scores were found for boys with low CRF compared with boys with high CRF (P < 0.001) without differences between girls, and in all groups classified by PA. Systolic and diastolic BPs were higher in boys than in girls, in both CRF and PA groups (P < 0.05). In the low CRF and no PA groups, girls had higher plasma glucose, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than boys, with higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A levels (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sex in relation to CRF and PA could affect the plasma lipid profile. These changes in girls are associated with low CRF and low levels of PA. Considering these results, we suggest the need to improve CRF and promote PA, especially in girls, to reduce metabolic risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Corporal Expression, Faculty of Education, University of Cordoba, Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco Jesus
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Llorente-Cantarero
authors.forename: Juan Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pérez-Navero
authors.forename: Juan de Dios
authors.initials: Jde D
authors.lastname: Benitez-Sillero
authors.forename: Maria Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Villanueva
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gil-Campos
mesh_terms: D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007328:Insulin; D002784:Cholesterol