Cross-sectional association between physical fitness and cardiometabolic risk in Chilean schoolchildren: the fat but fit paradox

BackgroundPrevious studies have examined the "fat but fit" paradox, revealing that greater levels of physical fitness may diminish the harmful consequences of excess weight on cardiometabolic risk. Despite the above, specific information about the "fat but fit" paradox in prepube...

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Published in:Translational pediatrics 2022-07, Vol.11 (7), p.1085-1094
Main Authors: Weisstaub, Gerardo, Gonzalez Bravo, María Angelica, García-Hermoso, Antonio, Salazar, Gabriela, López-Gil, José Francisco
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Language:English
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Summary:BackgroundPrevious studies have examined the "fat but fit" paradox, revealing that greater levels of physical fitness may diminish the harmful consequences of excess weight on cardiometabolic risk. Despite the above, specific information about the "fat but fit" paradox in prepuberal population is scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between cardiometabolic risk across (individual and combined) physical fitness and excess weight status and whether the "fat but fit" paradox is met in the sample of schoolchildren analyzed. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted including 452 children (59.1% girls), aged 7-9 years from Santiago (Chile). Physical fitness was assessed as cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular fitness. Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by the 6-minute-walk-test and muscle strength was assessed by the handgrip and standing long jump tests. Excess weight (overweight and obesity) was computed through body mass index (z-score). Cardiometabolic risk was established by summing the z-score of the serum glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, insulin and waist-to-height ratio. ResultsSchoolchildren with high physical fitness (individual or combined) showed the lowest cardiometabolic risk mean scores (P for trend
ISSN:2224-4336
2224-4344
2224-4344
DOI:10.21037/tp-22-25