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Cardiorespiratory fitness predicts clustered cardiometabolic risk in 10–11.9-year-olds

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate levels of clustered cardiometabolic risk and the odds of being ‘at risk’ according to cardiorespiratory fitness status in children. Data from 88 10–11.9-year-old children (mean age 11.05 ± 0.51 years), who participated in either the REACH Year 6 or the Benefits of Fitness Circuits for Primary School Populations studies were combined. Waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, adiponectin and C-reactive protein were assessed and used to estimate clustered cardiometabolic risk. Participants were classified as ‘fit’ or ‘unfit’ using recently published definitions (46.6 and 41.9 mL/kg/min for boys and girls, respectively), and continuous clustered risk scores between fitness groups were assessed. Participants were subsequently assigned to a ‘normal’ or ‘high’ clustered cardiometabolic risk group based on risk scores, and logistic regression analysis assessed the odds of belonging to the increased cardiometabolic risk group according to fitness. The unfit group exhibited significantly higher clustered cardiometabolic risk scores (p < 0.001) than the fit group. A clear association between fitness group and being at increased cardiometabolic risk (B = 2.509, p = 0.001) was also identified, and participants classed as being unfit were found to have odds of being classified as ‘at risk’ of 12.30 (95 % CI = 2.64–57.33).

Conclusion Assessing cardiorespiratory fitness is a valid method of identifying children most at risk of cardiometabolic pathologies. The ROC thresholds could be used to identify populations of children most at risk and may therefore be used to effectively target a cardiometabolic risk-reducing public health intervention.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the schools, parents, participants and research teams involved in the REACH Y6 and the Fitness Circuits for Primary School Populations studies. We would also like to thank Nicola Lyons (phlebotomist), Dr. Marcus Auth, Paul Newland and Dr. Jeff Jones from Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. The REACH Y6 study was funded by Liverpool John Moores University. The Benefits of Fitness Circuits for Primary School Populations was funded by the University of the West of Scotland.

Conflict of interest

The research team confirm that there are no conflicts of interest for the current study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool, L7 8XP, UK

    Emma L. Houston

  2. Institute of Clinical Exercise and Health Science, University of the West of Scotland, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, ML3 0JB, UK

    Julien S. Baker & Duncan S. Buchan

  3. Applied Sports Technology, Exercise and Medicine Research Centre, College of Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK

    Gareth Stratton

  4. School of Sports Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

    Gareth Stratton

  5. The Physical Activity Exchange, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, 62 Great Crosshall Street, Liverpool, L3 2AT, UK

    Stuart J. Fairclough, Lawrence Foweather, Lee E. F. Graves, Nicola Hopkins & Lynne M. Boddy

  6. Department of Health Sciences, Liverpool Hope University, Hope Park, Liverpool, L16 9JD, UK

    Rebecca Gobbi

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  1. Emma L. Houston
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  2. Julien S. Baker
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  9. Nicola Hopkins
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  10. Lynne M. Boddy
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Correspondence to Lynne M. Boddy.

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Houston, E.L., Baker, J.S., Buchan, D.S. et al. Cardiorespiratory fitness predicts clustered cardiometabolic risk in 10–11.9-year-olds. Eur J Pediatr 172, 913–918 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-013-1973-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-013-1973-z

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