title: Physical fitness among urban and rural Ecuadorian adolescents and its association with blood lipids: a cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical fitness has been proposed as a marker for health during adolescence. Currently, little is known about physical fitness and its association with blood lipid profile in adolescents from low and middle-income countries. The aim of this study is therefore to assess physical fitness among urban and rural adolescents and its associations with blood lipid profile in a middle-income country.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2008 and April 2009 in 648 Ecuadorian adolescents (52.3% boys), aged 11 to 15 years, attending secondary schools in Cuenca (urban n = 490) and Nabón (rural n = 158). Data collection included anthropometric measures, application of the EUROFIT battery, dietary intake (2-day 24 h recall), socio-demographic characteristics, and blood samples from a subsample (n = 301). The FITNESGRAM standards were used to evaluate fitness. The associations of fitness and residential location with blood lipid profile were assessed by linear and logistic regression after adjusting for confounding factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority (59%) of the adolescents exhibited low levels of aerobic capacity as defined by the FITNESSGRAM standards. Urban adolescents had significantly higher mean scores in five EUROFIT tests (20 m shuttle, speed shuttle run, plate tapping, sit-up and vertical jump) and significantly most favorable improved plasma lipid profile (triglycerides and HDL) as compared to rural adolescents. There was a weak association between blood lipid profile and physical fitness in both urban and rural adolescents, even after adjustment for confounding factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical fitness, in our sample of Ecuadorian adolescents, was generally poor. Urban adolescents had better physical fitness and blood lipid profiles than rural adolescents. The differences in fitness did not explain those in blood lipid profile between urban and rural adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Food Nutrition and Health Program, Universidad de Cuenca, Avenida 12 de Abril s/n Ciudadela Universitaria, Cuenca, Ecuador EC010107. donaandrade@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Angélica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ochoa-Avilés
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lachat
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.forename: Roosmarijn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verstraeten
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Camp
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donoso
authors.forename: Rosendo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Greet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cardon
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kolsteren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004484:Ecuador; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012423:Rural Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids
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