Pubertal Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Relation to Late Adolescent Body Fatness in Boys: A 6-Year Follow-Up Study

Liina Remmel, Reeli Tamme, Vallo Tillmann, Evelin Mäestu, Priit Purge, Eva Mengel, Eva-Maria Riso and Jaak Jürimäe
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Liina Remmel: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, 50090 Tartu, Estonia
Reeli Tamme: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, 50406 Tartu, Estonia
Vallo Tillmann: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, 50406 Tartu, Estonia
Evelin Mäestu: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, 50090 Tartu, Estonia
Priit Purge: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, 50090 Tartu, Estonia
Eva Mengel: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, 50406 Tartu, Estonia
Eva-Maria Riso: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, 50090 Tartu, Estonia
Jaak Jürimäe: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, 50090 Tartu, Estonia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-10

Abstract: There is a lack of studies investigating whether objectively measured physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in puberty is associated with healthier body composition in late adolescence. The study sample included 71 boys, who were measured at puberty (mean age of 12.1 years) and again at late adolescence (mean age of 18.1 years). Physical activity was measured by accelerometry, and total PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and sedentary time (SED) were calculated, while CRF was assessed by a peak oxygen consumption test. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and body fat percentage (%BF), fat mass index (FMI), trunk fat mass index (TFMI), and fat-free mass index (FFMI) were calculated. Body mass index (BMI) and SED time increased, while MVPA, total PA, and CRF decreased from puberty to late adolescence. A relatively high degree of tracking for BMI and CRF, and a low tracking for PA from puberty to late adolescence was observed. Only the CRF value at puberty negatively predicted adolescent BF% (? = ?0.221; p = 0.015), FMI (? = ?0.212; p = 0.006), and TFMI (? = ?0.189; p = 0.015) values. Adolescents whose CRF was above the median at puberty had lower BMI, BF%, FMI, and TFMI in comparison to those whose CRF was below the median at puberty. In conclusion, measured CRF and PA values decreased from puberty to late adolescence. Pubertal CRF predicted body fatness indices six years later in healthy adolescents.

Keywords: physical activity; cardiorespiratory fitness; body fatness indices; tracking; puberty; adolescence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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