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Associations between cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity and clustered cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents: the HAPPY study

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Abstract

Clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors can occur during childhood and predisposes individuals to cardiometabolic disease. This study calculated clustered cardiometabolic risk in 100 children and adolescents aged 10–14 years (59 girls) and explored differences according to cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels and time spent at different physical activity (PA) intensities. CRF was determined using a maximal cycle ergometer test, and PA was assessed using accelerometry. A cardiometabolic risk score was computed as the sum of the standardised scores for waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio, triglycerides and glucose. Differences in clustered cardiometabolic risk between fit and unfit participants, according to previously proposed health-related threshold values, and between tertiles for PA subcomponents were assessed using ANCOVA. Clustered risk was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the fit group (mean 1.21 ± 3.42) compared to the unfit group (mean −0.74 ± 2.22), while no differences existed between tertiles for any subcomponent of PA. Conclusion These findings suggest that CRF may have an important cardioprotective role in children and adolescents and highlights the importance of promoting CRF in youth.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the participants who gave their time to the study. We would also like to thank all of the schools who helped facilitate the research. This study was funded by the Bedford Charity.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Sport and Physical Activity Research, University of Bedfordshire, Polhill Avenue, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9EA, UK

    Daniel P. Bailey, Louise A. Savory, Sarah J. Denton & Catherine J. Kerr

  2. The Research into Exercise, Activity and Children’s Health Group (REACH), The Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Tom Reilly Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK

    Lynne M. Boddy

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  1. Daniel P. Bailey
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Correspondence to Daniel P. Bailey.

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Bailey, D.P., Boddy, L.M., Savory, L.A. et al. Associations between cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity and clustered cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents: the HAPPY study. Eur J Pediatr 171, 1317–1323 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-012-1719-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-012-1719-3

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