Effect of adiposity and physical fitness on cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents: A 2-year longitudinal study

• Published in: Frontiers in sports and active living 2022-12, Vol.4, p.1060530-1060530
• Main Authors: Dring, Karah J, Cooper, Simon B, Williams, Ryan A, Morris, John G, Sunderland, Caroline, Foulds, Gemma A, Pockley, A Graham, Nevill, Mary E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adiposity; adolescents; cardiometabolic health; low-grade chronic inflammation; physical fitness; Sports and Active Living
• ISSN: 2624-9367; 2624-9367
• DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2022.1060530

Although risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases begin to present in young people, the association between physical fitness and adiposity with traditional and novel risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases across adolescence remains relatively unknown. Following ethical approval, fifty-two adolescents (age 11.6 ± 0.6 years; 32 girls) were recruited for a 2-years longitudinal study. Adiposity was assessed based on sum of skinfolds, waist circumference and body mass index, and physical fitness as distance run on the multi-stage fitness test (MSFT). Risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases (pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, plasma insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance - HOMA-IR, blood pressure) were measured following an overnight fast. Relationships between independent and response variables were analysed using multi-level modelling (final combined models were created using the stepwise backward elimination method). Plasma insulin concentration and HOMA-IR were positively associated with adiposity and inversely associated with distance run on the MSFT (all