Longitudinal associations of physical activity and sedentary time with cardiometabolic risk factors in children

2018

BACKGROUND There are few prospective studies on the associations of changes in objectively measured vigorous physical activity (VPA∆ ), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA∆ ), light physical activity (LPA∆ ), and sedentary time (ST∆ ) with changes in cardiometabolic risk factors (∆ ) in children. We therefore investigated these relationships among children. METHODS The participants were a population sample of 258 children aged 6-8 years followed for 2 years. We assessed PA and ST by a combined heart rate and movement sensor; computed continuous age- and sex-adjusted z-scores for waist circumference, blood pressure, and fasting insulin, glucose, triglycerides, and high-density lipop…

Physical activity volume and intensity distribution in relation to bone, lean and fat mass in children.

2022

Funder: City of Kuopio

Arterial Stiffness and Its Relationship to Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Children and Young Adults with a Fontan Circulation

2019

There are no previous studies on arterial stiffness and its associations with cardiorespiratory fitness in young Fontan patients. Therefore, we examined the arterial stiffness and its relationship to cardiorespiratory fitness in children and young adults with a Fontan circulation. Altogether, 17 Fontan patients and 26 healthy controls (16 females and 27 males aged 8–40 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. The cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a cycle ergometer and was defined as the standard deviation scores (SDS) of peak oxygen uptake per body mass (VO2peak/kg) based on the national reference values and assessed with cardiopulmonary…

Associations of Genetic Susceptibility to Alzheimer’s Disease with Adiposity and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors among Children in a 2-Year Follow-up St…

2018

We investigated the associations of genetic risk score (GRS) for Alzheimer's disease and apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ variant with cardiometabolic risk factors during 2-year follow-up in children and whether body fat percentage (BF%) modify these associations. A population-based sample of 469 children (246 boys, 223 girls) at baseline and 398 children (201 boys, 197 girls) at 2-year follow-up participated in the study. Genotyping was performed using the Illumina Custom Infinium CardioMetabo BeadChip and the Illumina Infinium HumanCoreExome BeadChip. The GRS was calculated using information on nine independent gene variants available in our genomic data. We assessed BF%, waist circumference, in…

Physical activity and sedentary time in relation to academic achievement in children

2017

Objectives To investigate the independent and combined associations of objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time (ST) with reading and arithmetic skills. Design Cross-sectional/prospective. Methods Participants were 89 boys and 69 girls aged 6–8 years. MVPA and ST were measured using a combined heart rate and movement sensor and body fat percentage by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in Grade 1. Reading fluency, reading comprehension, and arithmetic skills were assessed using standardized tests in Grades 1–3. The data were analyzed using linear regression analyses and analyses of covariance with repeated measures. Results In boys, MVPA was directl…

Cross-sectional associations of objectively-measured physical activity and sedentary time with body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in mid-…

2017

Abstract Background The minimum intensity of physical activity (PA) that is associated with favourable body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) remains unknown. Objective To investigate cross-sectional associations of PA and sedentary time (ST) with body composition and CRF in mid-childhood. Methods PA, ST, body composition and CRF were measured in a population-based sample of 410 children (aged 7.6 ± 0.4 years). Combined heart-rate and movement sensing provided estimates of PA energy expenditure (PAEE, kJ/kg/day) and time (min/day) at multiple fine-grained metabolic equivalent (MET) levels, which were also collapsed to ST and light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA) and vigorous PA (V…

A 2 year physical activity and dietary intervention attenuates the increase in insulin resistance in a general population of children: the PANIC stud…

2020

Abstract Aims/hypothesis We studied for the first time the long-term effects of a combined physical activity and dietary intervention on insulin resistance and fasting plasma glucose in a general population of predominantly normal-weight children. Methods We carried out a 2 year non-randomised controlled trial in a population sample of 504 children aged 6–9 years at baseline. The children were allocated to a combined physical activity and dietary intervention group (306 children at baseline, 261 children at 2-year follow-up) or a control group (198 children, 177 children) without blinding. We measured fasting insulin and fasting glucose, calculated HOMA-IR, assessed physical activity and se…

Environmental Correlates of Motor Competence in Children -The Skilled Kids Study

2019

Environment, physical activity (PA) and motor development are tightly interwoven during childhood. We examined the associations of environmental factors with motor competence (MC) in children. Children (N = 945, 50.1% boys, age = 3–7 years, mean = 5.4 years) from 37 childcare centres in the Southern (n = 17), Central (n = 13) and Northern Finland (n = 7) participated. The environmental factors comprised the geographical location (Southern, Central and Northern Finland) and residential density (metropolitan area, city, rural area and countryside) of the childcare centres’ based on postal codes and the national population density registry. MC was measured using the Test of Gross Motor Develop…

Relationships of BMI, muscle-to-fat ratio, and handgrip strength-to-BMI ratio to physical fitness in Spanish children and adolescents

2023

AbstractThis study aimed to determine the relationship of body mass index (BMI), muscle-to-fat ratio (MFR), and handgrip strength-to-BMI ratio to physical fitness parameters in an active young population according to sex across four different time points. A total of 2256 Spanish children and adolescents (aged 5–18) from rural areas participating in an extracurricular sport in different municipal sports schools participated in this study. Participants were divided into children (5–10 years) and adolescents (11–18 years), boys and girls, and across four different time points (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021). Data on anthropometric measures (BMI, MFR, appendicular skeletal muscle mass) and physical fi…

The Mediating Role of Endocrine Factors in the Positive Relationship Between Fat Mass and Bone Mineral Content in Children Aged 9-11 Years: The Physi…

2022

IntroductionWe aimed to investigate whether the relationship between fat mass and bone mineral content (BMC) is mediated by insulin, leptin, adiponectin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, testosterone and estradiol in children aged 9-11 years.Materials and MethodsWe utilised cross-sectional data from the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children study (n = 230 to 396; 112 to 203 girls). Fat mass and BMC were assessed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Endocrine factors were assessed from fasted blood samples. We applied the novel 4-way decomposition method to analyse associations between fat mass, endocrine factors, and BMC.ResultsFat mass was positively associated with BMC in girls (ß…

The effects of a 2-year physical activity and dietary intervention on plasma lipid concentrations in children: the PANIC Study

2020

Funder: Opetus- ja Kulttuuriministeriö; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003126

The effects of a 2-year individualized and family-based lifestyle intervention on physical activity, sedentary behavior and diet in children

2016

To investigate the effects of a long-term, individualized and family-based lifestyle intervention on physical activity, sedentary behavior and diet quality in children.We carried out a 2-year intervention study in a population sample of 506 children aged 6-8years in Finland in 2007-2012. We allocated the participants at baseline in the intervention and control group. We assessed physical activity and sedentary behavior by questionnaires and diet by food records.Total physical activity (+9min/d in intervention group vs. -5min/d in control group, p=0.001 for time*group interaction), unsupervised physical activity (+7min/d vs. -9min/d, p0.001) and organized sports (+8min/d vs. +3min/d, p=0.001…

The effects of an 8-year individualised lifestyle intervention on food consumption and nutrient intake from childhood to adolescence: the PANIC Study.

2021

Abstract We aimed to investigate the effects of a long-term, individualised, family-based lifestyle intervention on food consumption and nutrient intake from childhood to adolescence. We conducted an 8-year diet and physical activity intervention study in a population sample of children aged 7–9 years at baseline in 2007–2009. We allocated the participants to the intervention group (n 306) and the control group (n 198). We assessed diet by 4-d food records at baseline, 2-year follow-up and 8-year follow-up. We analysed the data using linear mixed-effects models adjusted for age at baseline and sex. The consumption of vegetables and vegetable oil-based spreads (fat ≥60 %) increased in the in…

Associations of age, body size, and maturation with physical activity intensity in different laboratory tasks in children.

2021

We investigated the associations of age, sex, body size, body composition, and maturity with measures of physical activity (PA) intensity in children. PA intensity was assessed using VO2 as % of VO...

The associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, adiposity and sports participation with arterial stiffness in youth with chronic diseases or physical …

2017

Article

Associations of physical activity, sedentary time, and cardiorespiratory fitness with heart rate variability in 6- to 9-year-old children: the PANIC …

2019

Abstract Purpose To study the associations of physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with heart rate variability (HRV) in children. Methods The participants were a population sample of 377 children aged 6–9 years (49% boys). ST, light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and PA energy expenditure (PAEE) were assessed using a combined heart rate and movement sensor, maximal power output per kilograms of lean body mass as a measure of CRF by maximal cycle ergometer exercise test, and HRV variables (SDNN, RMSSD, LF, and HF) using 5 min resting electrocardiography. Data were analysed by linear regression ad…

P27-S Sex differences and cortical excitability in healthy adolescents

2019

Background Sex is known to influence brain development. However, sex differences in cortical excitability and their relationship to motor functions is unclear. Aim We examined the sex related differences in the degree of handedness, left and right motor cortex excitability and manual dexterity. Methods 28 healthy adolescents (age 16–19 years,19 girls) were studied. The degree of right-handedness was determined by the Waterloo Handedness Questionnaire. Motor threshold (MT) of the abductor pollicis brevis was measured on both hemispheres. Box and block test (BBT) was used for manual dexterity. Independent samples t-test was used in statistical analysis. Results There were no differences betwe…

Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Physical Activity, and Insulin Resistance in Children

2020

Purpose Few studies have investigated the independent and joint associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body fat percentage (BF%) with insulin resistance in children. We investigated the independent and combined associations of CRF and BF% with fasting glycemia and insulin resistance and their interactions with physical activity (PA) and sedentary time among 452 children age 6 to 8 yr. Methods We assessed CRF with a maximal cycle ergometer exercise test and used allometrically scaled maximal power output (Wmax) for lean body mass (LM) and body mass (BM) as measures of CRF. The BF% and LM were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, fasting glycemia by fasting plasma glucos…

Associations of cardiometabolic risk factors with heart rate variability in 6‐ to 8‐year‐old children: The PANIC Study

2019

BACKGROUND Associations of cardiometabolic risk factors with heart rate variability (HRV) in children are unclear. We examined associations of cardiometabolic risk score (CRS) and individual cardiometabolic risk factors with HRV variables in 6- to 8-year-olds. METHODS The participants were a population-based sample of 443 children participating in baseline measurements of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children trial. Cardiometabolic risk factors included waist circumference (WC), insulin, glucose, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). CRS was calculated as WC + insulin + glucose + triglycerides - HDL cholesterol + the mea…

Maturation changes the excitability and effective connectivity of the frontal lobe : A developmental TMS-EEG study

2019

The combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation with simultaneous electroencephalography (TMS–EEG) offers direct neurophysiological insight into excitability and connectivity within neural circuits. However, there have been few developmental TMS–EEG studies to date, and they all have focused on primary motor cortex stimulation. In the present study, we used navigated high‐density TMS–EEG to investigate the maturation of the superior frontal cortex (dorsal premotor cortex [PMd]), which is involved in a broad range of motor and cognitive functions known to develop with age. We demonstrated that reactivity to frontal cortex TMS decreases with development. We also showed that although fron…

Reproducibility of pulse wave velocity and augmentation index derived from non-invasive occlusive oscillometric tonometry analysis in adolescents

2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term reproducibility of aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) and augmentation index (AIx%) assessed by the non-invasive oscillometric device. Altogether of 55 (19 boys, 36 girls) adolescents 16-19-years-of-age participated in the study. PWVao and AIx% were measured during the same laboratory visit at 2 min intervals using the Arteriograph™ device. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak ) was assessed by the maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer and body fat percentage by bioelectrical impedance analysis. We studied reproducibility using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), coefficient variation with the root-means-square method expressed as p…

Associations of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Academic Skills – A Follow-Up Study among Primary School Children

2014

Background There are no prospective studies that would have compared the relationships of different types of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) with academic skills among children. We therefore investigated the associations of different types of PA and SB with reading and arithmetic skills in a follow-up study among children. Methods The participants were 186 children (107 boys, 79 girls, 6–8 yr) who were followed-up in Grades 1–3. PA and SB were assessed using a questionnaire in Grade 1. Reading fluency, reading comprehension and arithmetic skills were assessed using standardized tests at the end of Grades 1–3. Results Among all children more recess PA and more time spent i…

Longitudinal and cross-sectional associations of adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines with cardiometabolic risk

2022

This study aimed to examine 1) adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines over a 2-year follow-up in children aged 6-8 years and 2) association of this adherence with cardiometabolic risk factors. Physical activity and sleep were assessed by a monitor combining heart rate and accelerometry measurements. Screen time was reported by the parents. Body fat percentage, waist circumference, blood glucose, serum insulin, plasma lipids and blood pressure were assessed, and a cardiometabolic risk score was calculated using z-scores. Children were classified as meeting the guidelines if they had on average ≥60min/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during the valid days; ≤120min/day of screen…

Comparison of Classroom-Based Sedentary Time and Physical Activity in Conventional Classrooms and Open Learning Spaces Among Elementary School Studen…

2021

European children and adolescents spend most of their daily life and especially their school hours being sedentary which may increase their risk for chronic non-communicable diseases later in life. After the curriculum reform of Finnish basic education in 2014, most of the new or renovated comprehensive schools in Finland incorporate open and flexible classroom designs. Their open learning spaces may provide students opportunities to reduce sedentary behavior during school hours. Thus, waist-worn accelerometers were used to assess classroom-based sedentary time (ST), the number of breaks from sedentary time (BST), and physical activity (PA) among cross-sectional samples of 3rd and 5th grade…

Associations of Sex Hormones and Hormonal Status With Arterial Stiffness in a Female Sample From Reproductive Years to Menopause

2021

ObjectiveLoss of sex hormones has been suggested to underlie menopause-associated increment in cardiovascular risk. We investigated associations of sex hormones with arterial stiffness in 19–58-years-old women. We also studied associations of specific hormonal stages, including natural menstrual cycle, cycle with combined oral contraceptives (COC) and menopausal status with or without hormone therapy (HT), with arterial stiffness.MethodsThis study includes repeated measurements of 65 healthy women representing reproductive (n=16 natural, n=10 COC-users) and menopause (n=5 perimenopausal, n=26 postmenopausal, n=8 HT-users) stages. Arterial stiffness outcomes were aortic pulse wave velocity (…

Associations between cardiorespiratory fitness, motor competence, and adiposity in children

2020

We investigated the associations of motor competence (MC) with peak oxygen uptake (V.O-2peak), peak power output (W-max), and body fat percentage (BF%) and whether measures of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) modify the associations between MC and BF%. Altogether, 35 children (aged 7-11 years) in the CHIPASE Study and 297 in PANIC Study (aged 9-11 years) participated in the study. MC was assessed using KTK and modified Eurofit tests. V.O-2peak and W-max were measured by maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer and scaled by lean mass (LM) or body mass (BM). BF% was assessed either by bioimpedance (CHIPASE) or DXA (PANIC). MC was not associated with V.O-2peak/LM (standardized regression coe…

Association between cardiorespiratory fitness and metabolic health in overweight and obese adults

2021

Background Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been inversely associated with insulin resistance and clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors among overweight and obese individuals. However, most previous studies have scaled CRF by body mass (BM) possibly inflating the association between CRF and cardiometabolic health. We investigated the associations of peak oxygen uptake (V O2peak) and peak power output (Wpeak) scaled either by BM-1, fat free mass (FFM-1), or by allometric methods with individual cardiometabolic risk factors and clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors in 55 overweight or obese adults with metabolic syndrome. Methods V O2peak and Wpeak were assessed by a maximal cycl…

Associations of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Adiposity With Arterial Stiffness and Arterial Dilatation Capacity in Response to a Bout of Exercise in…

2019

Purpose: To investigate the associations of directly measured peak oxygen uptake (V˙O2peak) and body fat percentage (BF%) with arterial stiffness and arterial dilatation capacity in children. Metho...

Peak oxygen uptake cut-points to identify children at increased cardiometabolic risk - The PANIC Study.

2019

We aimed to develop cut -points for directly measured peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak ) to identify boys and girls at increased cardiometabolic risk using different scaling methods to control for body size and composition. Altogether 352 children (186 boys, 166 girls) aged 9 – 11 years were included in the analyses. We measured VO2peak directly during a maximal cycle ergometer exercise test and lean body mass (LM) by bioelectrical impedance. We computed a sex - and age -specific cardiometabolic risk score (CRS) by summing important cardiometabolic risk factors and defined increased cardiometabolic risk as >1 standard deviation above the mean of CRS. Receiver operating characteristics curves wer…

Health-related correlates of psychological well-being among girls and boys 6-8 years of age: The Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children study

2018

AIM Due to limited knowledge on the differences in the correlates of psychological well-being (PSWB) between girls and boys, we compared the correlates of PSWB between primary school girls and boys. METHODS A population sample of 412 children participated in the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children study. Parents completed a questionnaire that included 19 questions on the components of PSWB, and a PSWB score was computed. We assessed correlates of PSWB, including physical activity, sedentary behaviour, cardiorespiratory fitness, diet quality, body fat content, sleep duration, sleep disordered breathing, prevalent diseases and parental characteristics. We used logistic regression to a…

Associations of dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes with cognition among children

2020

AbstractObjective:To investigate the cross-sectional associations of dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes with cognition in mid-childhood.Design:Dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes were assessed using 4-d food records, and cognition was evaluated using the Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) score. The cross-sectional associations of dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes with cognition were investigated using linear regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, body fat percentage, household income, parental education and daily energy intake.Setting:The baseline examinations of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children study.Participants:A population-based s…

Is low cardiorespiratory fitness a feature of metabolic syndrome in children and adults?

2022

Objectives Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been inversely associated with risk of cardiometabolic diseases. However, there are no studies comparing the independent associations of CRF scaled by body size and composition using different approaches with cardiometabolic risk factors between children and adults. We therefore investigated these associations in children and adults using same measures for CRF and cardiometabolic risk factors. Design Cross-sectional. Methods A total of 352 children (47.2 % girls) and 572 men were included in the study. Peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) was measured during a maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer and was scaled by total body mass (BM−1), total f…

Longitudinal Associations of Fitness, Motor Competence, and Adiposity with Cognition

2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), motor competence (MC), and body fat percentage (BF%) with cognition in children. Methods: Altogether, 371 children (188 boys and 183 girls) 6–9 yr of age at baseline participated in this 2-yr follow-up study. We assessed CRF by maximal cycle ergometer test, computed the MC score from the z-scores of the 50-m shuttle run, static balance, and box and block test results, measured BF% by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and assessed cognition using the Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) score. The associations were studied by linear regression analysis and repeated-…

Evidence for protein leverage in a general population sample of children and adolescents

2023

Background/ObjectivesThe strong regulation of protein intake can lead to overconsumption of total energy on diets with a low proportion of energy from protein, a process referred to as protein leverage. The protein leverage hypothesis posits that protein leverage explains variation in energy intake and potentially obesity in ecological settings. Here, we tested for protein leverage and the protein leverage hypothesis in children and adolescents.Subjects/MethodsA population sample of children, mean (SD) age 7.6 (0.4) years (n = 422), followed up at age 9.8 (0.4) years (n = 387) and at age 15.8 (0.4) years (n = 229), participating for the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) st…

Classroom-based physical activity and teachers’ instructions on students’ movement in conventional classrooms and open learning spaces

2022

AbstractAs a result of educational reforms in many countries, including Finland, new or renovated comprehensive schools have increasingly begun to incorporate open and flexible designs and principles. Multipurpose and adaptable open learning spaces can provide children with amplified opportunities to be physically active during general education. Classroom-based physical activity has been associated with better academic-related outcomes and students’ on-task behaviour, while overall physical activity has been associated with better health. In the present study, we investigated the effects of classroom type, gender and grade level on classroom-based physical activity, and the associations be…

Longitudinal associations of physical activity and pubertal development with academic achievement in adolescents.

2020

Highlights • Boys with higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity had better academic achievement than those with lower levels of physical activity at baseline. • Physical activity was not associated with academic achievement at follow-up in boys or girls. • Continuously inactive adolescents had poorer academic achievement over the follow-up period than their more active peers. • Girls with more advanced pubertal status had better academic achievement than other girls.

An Overview on the Associations between Health Behaviors and Brain Health in Children and Adolescents with Special Reference to Diet Quality.

2020

Unhealthy diet has been associated with overweight, obesity, increased cardiometabolic risk, and recently, to impaired cognition and academic performance. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the associations between health behaviors and cognition and academic achievement in children and adolescents under 18 years of age with a special reference to diet quality. Dietary patterns with a low consumption of fish, fruits, and vegetables, and high in fast food, sausages, and soft drinks have been linked to poor cognition and academic achievement. The studies on the associations between the high intake of saturated fat and red meat and low intake of fiber and high-fiber grain produ…

Associations of IGF-1 and Adrenal Androgens with Cognition in Childhood

2019

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Little is known about the association between adrenarche and cognition in general populations of children. We therefore studied the associations of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), androstenedione (A4), testosterone, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and adrenarche with cognition among prepubertal children. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> These cross-sectional analyses are based on baseline data of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children Study. A total of 387 children (183 girls, 204 boys) were included in the analyses. Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM) score was used to assess nonverbal reasoning.…

Associations of resting and peak fat oxidation with sex hormone profile and blood glucose control in middle-aged women.

2022

Background and Aims Menopause may reduce fat oxidation. We investigated whether sex hormone profile explains resting fat oxidation (RFO) or peak fat oxidation (PFO) during incremental cycling in middle-aged women. Secondarily, we studied associations of RFO and PFO with glucose regulation. Method and Results We measured RFO and PFO of 42 women (age 52–58 years) with indirect calorimetry. Seven participants were pre- or perimenopausal, 26 were postmenopausal, and nine were postmenopausal hormone therapy users. Serum estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone, progesterone, and testosterone levels were quantified with immunoassays. Insulin sensitivity (Matsuda index) and glucose tolerance (…

Associations of Motor and Cardiovascular Performance with Academic Skills in Children

2013

HAAPALA, E. A., A.-M. POIKKEUS, T. TOMPURI, K. KUKKONEN-HARJULA, P. H. T. LEPPANEN, V. LINDI, and T. A. LAKKA. Associations of Motor and Cardiovascular Performance with Academic Skills in Children. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. ,V ol. 46, No. 5, pp. 1016-1024, 2014. Purpose: We investigated the associations of cardiovascular and motor performance in grade 1 with academic skills in grades 1-3. Methods: The participants were 6- to 8-yr-old children with complete data in grades 1-2 for 174 children and in grade 3 for 167 children. Maximal workload during exercise test was used as a measure of cardiovascular performance. The shuttle run test (SRT) time, the errors in balance test, and the number of c…

Mediating effects of motor performance, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour on the associations of adiposity and ot…

2018

We investigated the associations of cardiometabolic risk factors with academic achievement and whether motor performance, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, or sedentary behaviour mediated these associations. Altogether 175 children 6-8 years-of-age participated in the study. We assessed body fat percentage (BF%), waist circumference, insulin, glucose, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, leptin, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). Reading fluency, reading comprehension, and arithmetic skills were assessed using standardized tests. Speed/agility, balance, and manual dexterity test results were used to calculate moto…

Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, and BMI with arterial health in middle‐aged men and women

2020

Abstract We investigated the associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), physical activity (PA) with regard to aerobic and resistance training, and body mass index (BMI) with pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) in middle‐aged adults with at least one cardiovascular risk factor. A total of 84 (46 men and 38 women) participated in the study. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured using a maximal graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer and was defined as maximal power output (Wmax) normalized for body weight‐0.35. Participation in aerobic and resistance training was assessed by a detailed questionnaire and BMI was calculated as weight (kg)/[height (m2)]. Pulse wave ve…

P26-S Left and right motor cortical excitability and relationship to motor functions in healthy adolescents

2019

Background The interhemispheric difference in cortical excitability and its relationship to motor functions is unclear. Aim We examined the relationship between handedness, left and right motor cortex excitability and fine and gross motor functions in adolescence. Methods 28 healthy adolescents (age 16–19 years, 19 girls) were studied. Handedness was determined by the Waterloo Handedness Questionnaire. Motor threshold (MT) of the abductor pollicis brevis was measured on both hemispheres using biphasic stimulation, and on the left hemisphere also with monophasic stimulation. Box and block test (BBT) was used for manual dexterity, line run and standing long jump for gross motor tasks. Spearma…

Plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids are directly associated with cognition in overweight children but not in normal weight children

2016

Aim Polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential nutrients for the normal development of the brain. We investigated the associations between plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids and cognition in normal weight and overweight children. Methods The study recruited 386 normal weight children and 58 overweight children aged six to eight years and blood samples were drawn after a 12-hour fast. We assessed plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids using gas chromatography, cognition using Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices, and overweight and obesity using the age-specific and sex-specific cut-offs from the International Obesity Task Force. The data were analysed by linear regression analyses adjusted for …

Adiposity, physical activity and neuromuscular performance in children

2016

We investigated the associations of body fat percentage, objectively assessed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and different types of physical activity assessed by a questionnaire with neuromuscular performance. The participants were 404 children aged 6–8 years. Body fat percentage (BF%) was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and physical activity by combined heart rate and movement sensing and a questionnaire. The results of 50-metre shuttle run, 15-metre sprint run, hand grip strength, standing long jump, sit-up, modified flamingo balance, box and block, and sit-and-reach tests were used as measures of neuromuscular performance. Children who had a combination of…

Prevention of cardiovascular diseases since early childhood - is keeping kids at normal weight the best investment?

2019

Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and blood pressure with arterial stiffness in adolescent, young adult, and middle-aged w…

2022

AbstractFew studies have investigated whether higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) or favourable body composition are related to lower arterial stiffness in women. We therefore investigated the associations of CRF, body fat percentage (BF%), fat free mass index (FFMI), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) with arterial stiffness in 146 women aged 16–58 years. CRF was assessed by a maximal exercise test with respiratory gas analysis either on a cycle ergometer or a treadmill. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao), augmentation index (AIx%), and MAP were assessed by a non-invasive oscillometric device and BF% and FFMI by a bioelectrical impedance or DXA device. CRF was inversely associated with PW…

Longitudinal associations of physical activity, sedentary time, and cardiorespiratory fitness with arterial health in children – the PANIC study

2021

We investigated the longitudinal associations of physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with arterial health among children. In our primary analyses, we investigated 245 children (girls 51.8%) aged 6-9 years participating in the baseline examinations who had data on arterial health at 2-year follow-up. We also utilized a subsample of 90 children who had a complete arterial health data at baseline and 2-year follow-up. ST (≤1.5 METs), light PA (>1.5-4 METs), moderate PA (>4-7 METs), vigorous PA (>7METs), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA, >4 METs) were assessed by combined movement and heart rate monitoring and CRF by maximal exercise testing on a cy…

Associations of Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Time With Arterial Stiffness in Pre-Pubertal Children.

2017

Purpose: To investigate the relationships of objectively measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) to arterial stiffness in pre-pubertal children. Method: Altogether 136 children (57 boys, 79 girls) aged 6–8-years participated in the study. Stiffness index (SI) was assessed by pulse contour analysis based on photoplethysmography. ST, light PA, moderate PA, and vigorous PA were assessed using combined acceleration and heart rate monitoring. We investigated the associations of ST (<1.5METs) and time spent in intensity level of PA above 2–7METs in min/d with SI using linear regression analysis. We studied the optimal duration and intensity of PA to identify children being in the …

Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, adiposity, and arterial stiffness with cognition in youth

2020

Abstract Purpose To investigate the associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, adiposity, and arterial stiffness with cognition in 16‐ to 19‐year‐old adolescents. Methods Fifty four adolescents (35 girls; 19 boys) participated in the study. Peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) and peak power output (Wmax) were measured by the maximal ramp test on a cycle ergometer and ventilatory threshold (VT) was determined with ventilation equivalents. Lean mass (LM) and body fat percentage (BF%) were measured using a bioelectrical impedance analysis. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) and augmentation index (AIx%) were measured by a non‐invasive oscillometric device. Working memory, short term memory, visual l…

Associations of physical activity, sedentary time, and diet quality with biomarkers of inflammation in children

2022

We investigated the associations of physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST), and diet quality with biomarkers of inflammation in 390 children (192 girls, 198 boys) aged 6–8 years. PA energy expenditure (PAEE), light PA, moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and ST were assessed by combined movement and heart rate sensor. Finnish Children Healthy Eating Index was calculated using data from 4 d food records. Body fat percentage (BF%) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), leptin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor-α, and glycoprotein acetyls were measured from fasting blood samp…

Allometrically scaled explosive strength, but not static strength or maximal oxygen uptake is associated with better central processing time in young…

2020

BACKGROUND: We aimed to examine the associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), static strength and explosive strength with cognitive functions in young males. METHODS: Eighty-six young males (age 16-24 years) participated in the study and took part in a number of tests including: static strength (grip strength test), explosive strength (Sargent jump test), and CRF (via direct measure of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max)). Static strength and explosive strength were scaled by allometrically modeled skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and height while VO2max was scaled by SMM and body mass (BM). Cognition was assessed by inhibitory control, simple and choice reaction time tasks using computerized C…

Effect of a 2-y dietary and physical activity intervention on plasma fatty acid composition and estimated desaturase and elongase activities in child…

2016

Background: Evidence on the effects of lifestyle interventions on plasma fatty acid composition in children is limited. Objective: We investigated the effects of a dietary and physical activity intervention on plasma fatty acid composition of cholesteryl esters (CEs) and phospholipids and estimated desaturase and elongase activities in children. Design: We conducted a 2-y controlled dietary and physical activity intervention based on Finnish nutrition and physical activity recommendations in a population sample of 506 children aged 6–8 y. We assessed plasma fatty acid composition by gas chromatography and estimated desaturase and elongase activities as the ratio of product fatty acids to pr…

Cross-sectional associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and NMR-derived metabolic biomarkers in children : the PANIC study

2022

Objective: Cardiorespiratory fitness has been inversely associated with cardiovascular risk across the lifespan. Some studies in adults suggest that higher cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with cardioprotective metabolite profile, but the evidence in children is lacking. Therefore, we investigated the cross-sectional association of cardiorespiratory fitness with serum nuclear magnetic resonance derived metabolic biomarkers in children. Methods: A population sample of 450 children aged 6–8 years was examined. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by a maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer and quantified as maximal power output normalised for lean body mass assessed by dual-energ…

Associations of dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes with cognition among children

2020

Objective: To investigate the cross-sectional associations of dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes with cognition in mid-childhood. Design: Dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes were assessed using 4-d food records, and cognition was evaluated using the Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) score. The cross-sectional associations of dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes with cognition were investigated using linear regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, body fat percentage, household income, parental education and daily energy intake. Setting: The baseline examinations of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children study. Participants: A population-based sa…

Liikuntaa vai unta diabeteksen ehkäisyyn?

2021

Liikunta – ihmelääke oppimiseen?

2022

Fyysisen aktiivisuuden sanotaan tehoavan lähes jokaiseen vaivaan, edistävän aivoterveyttä ja auttavan oppimaan. Liikunnallisuuden merkitys oppimisessa on kuitenkin epäselvä ja osin kiistanalainenkin. nonPeerReviewed

Covid-19-rajoitukset söivät lasten ja nuorten fyysisen kunnon

2021

Associations of cardiometabolic risk factors with heart rate variability in 6‐ to 8‐year‐old children : The PANIC Study

2020

Background Associations of cardiometabolic risk factors with heart rate variability (HRV) in children are unclear. We examined associations of cardiometabolic risk score (CRS) and individual cardiometabolic risk factors with HRV variables in 6‐ to 8‐year‐olds. Methods The participants were a population‐based sample of 443 children participating in baseline measurements of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children trial. Cardiometabolic risk factors included waist circumference (WC), insulin, glucose, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). CRS was calculated as WC + insulin + glucose + triglycerides − HDL cholesterol + the mea…

Determinants of Cognitive Performance in Children and Adolescents : A Populational Longitudinal Study

2022

We evaluated the determinants of cognitive performance in children and adolescents. This is a longitudinal study, secondary analysis of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study. We assessed 502 children (51.6% girls) at middle childhood (range: 6.6 to 9.0 years), at late childhood, 437 children (51.0% girls, range: 8.8 to 11.2 years), and in 277 adolescents (54.5% girls, range: 15.0 to 17.4 years). Raven’s progressive matrices tests estimated the participants’ cognitive performance (outcome variable) at all time points. In total, we evaluated 29 factors from various dimensions (prenatal, neonatal, child fitness, lifestyle and anthropometrics). None of the neonatal and a…

Luokkatilan vaikutus lasten fyysiseen aktiivisuuteen

2021

Lapset ja nuoret viettävät suuren osan ajastaan koulussa. Suomen kouluissa on 2020-luvulla käytössä sekä perinteisiä että avoimia tilaratkaisuja. CHIPASE-tutkimuksen kouluosiossa ei havaittu avoimessa ja perinteisessä luokkatilassa suuria systemaattisia eroja liikkumisen määrässä. Sen sijaan taukoja passiivisesti vietetystä ajasta kertyi enemmän avoimessa tilassa. Luokkatilan tyypistä riippumatta opettajilla vaikuttaisi olevan merkittävä rooli oppilaiden liikkumiseen oppituntien aikana. nonPeerReviewed

Cross‐sectional associations between physical fitness and biomarkers of inflammation in children : the PANIC study

2023

Background Systemic low-grade inflammation has been proposed as an underlying pathophysiological mechanism for cardiometabolic diseases. We investigated the associations of physical fitness with systemic low-grade inflammatory state in a population sample of children. Methods Altogether 391 children aged 6–9 years were examined. Cardiorespiratory fitness (maximal power output, Wmax) was assessed by a maximal cycle ergometer test and neuromuscular fitness by hand grip strength, sit-up, standing long jump, 50-metre shuttle run, static balance, sit-and-reach, and box and block tests. Body fat percentage (BF%) and lean mass (LM) were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. High sensitivit…

Sedentary Thresholds for Accelerometry-Based Mean Amplitude Deviation and Electromyography Amplitude in 7–11 Years Old Children

2019

We investigated the ability of energy expenditure, movement sensing, and muscle activity to discriminate sedentary and non-sedentary activities in children. Thirty-five 7–11-year-old children participated in the study. Simultaneous assessment of oxygen uptake (V̇O2), triaxial accelerometry, and thigh muscle electromyography (EMG) were performed during eight different sedentary and non-sedentary activities including lying down, sitting-, standing-, and walking-related activities, which were performed in a random order. Mean values of V̇O2, accelerometry, and EMG from the concurrent 2 min epochs during each activity were computed. Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured during 30 min su…

Associations of fitness, motor competence, and adiposity with the indicators of physical activity intensity during different physical activities in c…

2021

We investigated the associations of peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak), ventilatory threshold (VT), muscle strength, motor competence (MC), and adiposity with the indicators of PA intensity during different physical activities used to create absolute PA intensity cut-offs among 35 children 7–11-years-of-age. V̇O2peak was defined as the highest V̇O2 achieved in the maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on a cycle ergometer, self-paced running, or running on a treadmill at 8 km/h. VT was defined from the CPET data. Peak isometric knee extensor and flexor strength was assessed by a dynamometer, MC by the Körperkoordination test für Kinder tests, and body composition by the bioelectrical impe…

Reippaalla liikunnalla joustoa valtimoihin ja enemmän verta aivoille

2021

Associations of Sex Hormones and Hormonal Status With Arterial Stiffness in a Female Sample From Reproductive Years to Menopause

2021

Objective: Loss of sex hormones has been suggested to underlie menopause-associated increment in cardiovascular risk. We investigated associations of sex hormones with arterial stiffness in 19–58-years-old women. We also studied associations of specific hormonal stages, including natural menstrual cycle, cycle with combined oral contraceptives (COC) and menopausal status with or without hormone therapy (HT), with arterial stiffness. Methods: This study includes repeated measurements of 65 healthy women representing reproductive (n=16 natural, n=10 COC-users) and menopause (n=5 perimenopausal, n=26 postmenopausal, n=8 HT-users) stages. Arterial stiffness outcomes were aortic pulse wave veloc…

Lapsuuden liikunta näkyy aikuisen sydänterveydessä

2021

Associations of physical activity, sedentary time, and cardiorespiratory fitness with heart rate variability in 6- to 9-year-old children: the PANIC …

2019

Purpose. To study the associations of physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with heart rate variability (HRV) in children. Methods. The participants were a population sample of 377 children aged 6–9 years (49% boys). ST, light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and PA energy expenditure (PAEE) were assessed using a combined heart rate and movement sensor, maximal power output per kilograms of lean body mass as a measure of CRF by maximal cycle ergometer exercise test, and HRV variables (SDNN, RMSSD, LF, and HF) using 5 min resting electrocardiography. Data were analysed by linear regression adjusted …

Association between cardiorespiratory fitness and metabolic health in overweight and obese adults

2022

BACKGROUND: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been inversely associated with insulin resistance and clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors among overweight and obese individuals. However, most previous studies have scaled CRF by body mass (BM) possibly inflating the association between CRF and cardiometabolic health. We investigated the associations of peak oxygen uptake (V̇ O2peak) and peak power output (Wpeak) scaled either by BM-1, fat free mass (FFM-1), or by allometric methods with individual cardiometabolic risk factors and clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors in 55 overweight or obese adults with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: V̇ O2peak and Wpeak were assessed by a maximal …

Exercise intervention protocol in children and young adults with cerebral palsy : the effects of strength, flexibility and gait training on physical …

2021

Abstract Background Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) have problems in everyday tasks such as walking and climbing stairs due to a combination of neuromuscular impairments such as spasticity, muscle weakness, reduced joint flexibility and poor coordination. Development of evidence-based interventions are in pivotal role in the development of better targeted rehabilitation of CP, and thus in maintaining their motor function and wellbeing. Our aim is to investigate the efficacy of an individually tailored, multifaceted exercise intervention (EXECP) in children and young adults with CP. EXECP is composed of strength, flexibility and gait training. Furthermore, this study aims to verify the …

Associations of age, body size, and maturation with physical activity intensity in different laboratory tasks in children

2021

We investigated the associations of age, sex, body size, body composition, and maturity with measures of physical activity (PA) intensity in children. PA intensity was assessed using VO2 as % of VO2reserve or VO2 at ventilatory threshold (VT), muscle activity measured by textile electromyography, mean amplitude deviation (MAD) measured by accelerometry, and metabolic equivalent of task (MET) during laboratory activities.Age, stature, and muscle mass were inversely associated with VO2 as % of VO2reserve and % of VT, during walking or running on a treadmill for 4, 6, and 8 km/h (Spearman r = -0.645 to -0.358). Age was inversely associated with MAD during walking on treadmill for 4 km/h (r = -…

Associations of Classroom Design and Classroom-Based Physical Activity with Behavioral and Emotional Engagement among Primary School Students

2021

Educational reforms worldwide have resulted in schools increasingly incorporating open and flexible classroom designs. Open learning spaces may contribute to a student’s behavioral and emotional school engagement directly and by facilitating classroom-based physical activity (CPA). We investigated the associations between accelerometer-assessed CPA and student ratings of task-focused behavior and attitude towards school as indicators for behavioral and emotional engagement, respectively, with the associations of gender, grade, and classroom design on CPA among 206 3rd and 5th grade students in open learning spaces and conventional classrooms. Structural equation modelling showed open classr…

Sydäntautien ehkäisyn aloittamisessa ei alaikärajaa

2021

Physical activity accumulation along the intensity spectrum differs between children and adults

2021

Purpose Detailed exploration of physical activity accumulation with fine grading along the intensity spectrum has indicated the potential pragmatic utility of such an approach. However, it is currently unclear what sorts of accumulation patterns along particular intensity bands are found in the children and adult populations. Therefore, we conducted a comparison of activity accumulation in specific intensity bands between four distinct populations: children, adults with sedentary lifestyles, habitual joggers, habitual marathon runners. Methods Free-living waist-worn accelerometry records from 28 children aged 7 to 11, and 61 adults aged 25 to 35 were analysed. Activity intensity was evaluat…

Kuinka mitata lasten liikkumista?

2021

Alakouluikäisten lasten liikuntaan ja liikkumattomuuteen keskittynyt CHIPASE-tutkimus toteutettiin Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriön rahoittamana vuosina 2016-2020. Tulokset tuovat esiin lasten iän, sukupuolen, kehon koon, kehon koostumuksen ja kuntotason vaikutuksen fyysisen aktiivisuuden kuormittavuutta arvioidessa. Alle 13-vuotiailla paikallaanolon mittaamiseen tutkimus antoi kiihtyvyysmittarille soveltuvat raja-arvot käytettäväksi laajemmissa väestötutkimuksissa. nonPeerReviewed

Comparison of Classroom-based Sedentary Time and Physical Activity in Conventional Classrooms and Open Learning Spaces Among Elementary School Studen…

2021

European children and adolescents spend most of their daily life and especially their school hours being sedentary which may increase their risk for chronic non-communicable diseases later in life. After the curriculum reform of Finnish basic education in 2014, most of the new or renovated comprehensive schools in Finland incorporate open and flexible classroom designs. Their open learning spaces may provide students opportunities to reduce sedentary behavior during school hours. Thus, waist-worn accelerometers were used to assess classroom-based sedentary time (ST), the number of breaks from sedentary time (BST), and physical activity (PA) among cross-sectional samples of 3rd and 5th grade…

Sedentary Patterns and Sit-to-Stand Transitions in Open Learning Spaces and Conventional Classrooms among Primary School Students

2022

Educational reforms worldwide have resulted in schools increasingly incorporating open and flexible classroom designs that may provide possibilities to reduce sedentary behavior among students during lessons. Cross-sectional associations of classroom type on accelerometry assessed sedentary bout durations and sit-to-stand transitions were investigated in 191 third and fifth grade students recruited from one school with open learning spaces and two schools with conventional classrooms. A three-way ANOVA for classroom type, gender and grade level indicated that students in open learning spaces had more 1-to-4-min sedentary bouts (mean difference 1.8 bouts/h, p 10-min sedentary bouts (median 0…