The effects of physical activity during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood on cardiovascular risk factors among adults

Author(s)

André O. Werneck ^[1] ; Ricardo R. Agostinete ^[2] ; Manoel Carlos S. de Lima ^[3] ; Bruna C. Turi-Lynch ^[4] ; Romulo A. Fernandes ^[5]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Departamento de Educação Física. Laboratório de Investigação em Exercício - Brasil

^[2] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Departamento de Educação Física. Laboratório de Investigação em Exercício - Brasil

^[3] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Departamento de Educação Física. Laboratório de Investigação em Exercício - Brasil

^[4] Lander University. Department of Physical Education and Exercise Science - Estados Unidos

^[5] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Departamento de Educação Física. Laboratório de Investigação em Exercício - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira; v. 65, n. 11, p. 1337-1342, 2019-12-02.

Abstract

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES: To analyze the association between physical activity during life and cardiovascular risk factors among adults. DESIGN: The sample was composed of 101 adults (59 men) between 30 and 50 years old, who were recruited from different gyms and from a University in Brasil. Participants were divided according to their engagement in sports in early life (self-reported) and current physical activity (pedometer) (sports participation during childhood/adolescence and currently active [n=26], sports participation during childhood/adolescence and currently inactive [n=26], and control [n=49]). Cardiovascular risk factors were measured, such as body fat (through DXA), HDL-C, triglycerides, HOMA index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and C-reactive protein. We adopted the covariates of chronological age, sex, alcohol consumption, tobacco, and body mass index. General estimating equations were used, with p<0.05. RESULTS: After the adjustments of the final model, individuals engaged in sports during childhood and adolescence and inactive during adulthood presented lower body fat, when compared to participants persistently inactive (p<0.001). Participants persistently active presented lower body fat (p<0.001) and lower c-reactive protein (p=0.010) when compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Early sports participation was associated with reduced body fat, and being physically active throughout life was associated with reduced body fat and C-reactive protein. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/09182-5 - Impact of aquatic sport participation on markers of bone turnover among adolescents: ABCD - growth study
• Grantee: Ricardo Ribeiro Agostinete
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/27234-2 - Longitudinal association between biological maturation, body fatness and sports participation predicting the risk of metabolic syndrome and C-reactive protein: structural equation modelling (ABCD - growth study)
• Grantee: André de Oliveira Werneck
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master