Overweight, obesity, physical activity, cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in a Portuguese sample of high school adolescents.

AIM: The aim of this paper was to describe overweight, obesity, physical activity, cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness levels in school adolescents, aged between 12 to 17 years.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study that took place in Castelo Branco district, Portugal. Height, weight, body mass index, waist circumference and percentage of fat mass by bioelectric impedance were measured. Physical activity was assessed by the Adapted Version to Portuguese Population of Weekly Activity Checklist (AVPPWAC); 20-metre shuttle run test (SRT) was performed to determine cardiorespiratory fitness level. Muscular fitness was determined with curl-ups, back-arch and push-ups. 924 adolescents were analyzed.

RESULTS: According to BMI International Obesity Task Force reference values, male's overweight values showed a prevalence of 23.5% and 21.4% for females. For obesity values, males showed a prevalence of 5.4% and 3.4% for females. According to WC reference values, male's overweight values showed a prevalence of 67.4% and 74.3% for females. For obesity values, males showed a prevalence of 30.1% and 36.2% for females. According to %FM reference values, male's overweight values showed a prevalence of 13.8% and 20.2% for females. For obesity values, males showed a prevalence of 4.4% and 28.4% for females. The percentage of subjects with low PA level or below of the P25 was 25.9% for males and 26.3% for females. According to body mass status group, the PA decreases as adiposity increases. Males and females exhibited very low cardiorespiratory fitness based on SRT (males mean =47.65±22.75 rounds) and muscular fitness based on push-ups (males mean =14.66±10.36 repetitions; females mean =8.11±7.22 repetitions); curl-ups (males mean =41.35±23.76 repetitions; females mean =33.87±21.78 repetitions); and back arch (males mean =26.24±5.02 cm; females mean =26.37±5.28 cm) exhibited good values in accordance to the optimal zone for muscular fitness.

CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of overweight and central adiposity in this population, with low physical activity and fitness levels. This profile may result in adverse health outcomes.