Independent and combined associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and fatness with cardiovascular risk factors in Brazilian youth.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to examine the independent and combined influence of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), body mass index (BMI) and percentage of fat (% fat) on total cholesterol (TC) and blood pressure (BP) in male and female youth.


METHODS
1442 (721 girls) children and adolescents aged 7-12 years were randomly selected. CRF, BMI, % fat (predictor variables), TC, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP; outcome variables) were measured. Using standardized cut-off points, we created categories for each variable. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to test the independent influence of predictors on outcomes.


RESULTS
The prevalence of increased TC, SBP, and DBP were 34.4% (95% CI 31.9-37.0), 9.1% (95% CI 7.5-10.6), and 15.5% (95% CI 13.5-17.4), respectively. In multivariable analyses, CRF was a significant predictor of all outcome variables (P < .05). BMI was associated with SBP and DBP (P < .05) and % fat was associated only with SBP (P < .05). CRF had stronger associations with TC than BMI, whereas the opposite was observed for SBP and DBP.


CONCLUSIONS
CRF and BMI are independently associated to TC and BP in male and female youth, and individuals unfit/overweight have greater likelihood of presenting these risk factors.
Physical Education College, Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Gabriel Gustavo
GG
Bergmann
Mauren Lúcia
ML
de Araújo Bergmann
Pedro C
PC
Hallal
D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
D008055:Lipids