31st Jan 2024

Introduction: Adolescence is a critical period in the which high fat accrual is associated with increased risk of overweight (OW) in adulthood. Adolescent fitness, a component of physical activity, also influences adult weight status. This study investigated longitudinally the links between adolescent fat accrual and fitness on subsequent adult fat mass. Methods: 76 adult males from the Saskatchewan Growth and Development Study (SGDS) (1964-2010), were assessed serially from 7-17 years of age and again at 40-50 years of age. A biological age (BA; years from peak height velocity (PHV=0)) was calculated. Skinfold measures were used to derive TBF (%) and trunk fat (Tfat, mm). OW was defined by age and sex specific %TBF cut-offs. A fitness score was calculated from measures of VO2max, strength and fitness performance. In adulthood, participants were put into tertiles using DXA derived percent total body fat (TBF) (G1≤20.6%; G2 >20.6%<27%; G3 ≥27%). ANOVA was used to find mean differences. Results: In adolescence, prior to PHV, all subjects were normal weight (NW); however, TBF in G3 was significantly higher than G1 and G2 from BA’s -4 to 0 (p 23.6; 100% in G2 and G3). Only G3 became OW before emerging adulthood. Adolescent TBF, Tfat and fitness score differed between groups (p<0.05). Tfat was significantly higher in G3 compared to G1 from BA’s -4 to +3 (p<0.05) and G1 and G2 had higher fitness scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that 5 years around the attainment of PHV is a critical period for fat accrual and physical fitness development on adult weight status. Results also suggest that OW adults may be at heightened health risk due to concomitant gains in Tfat around PHV, even those classified as normal weight during adolescence.

Introduction: The diversity of the UK student population has increased dramatically in recent years. Whilst previous literature has identified differences in anthropometric outcomes between gender and ethnic groups, the extent to which these factors influence adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes in students is currently unclear. The present study therefore aimed to identify differences in the prevalence of adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes between gender and ethnic groups in UK university students.
Methods: Physiological testing was conducted across three years (2021-2023). Data from each year were combined to form a single cross-sectional dataset (n=1,299). Independent samples t-tests assessed differences between genders and one-way ANOVAs assessed differences between ethnic groups.
Results: Gender differences were present for all variables other than BMI and diastolic blood pressure (BP). The prevalence of overweight, obesity and hypertension were higher in males compared to females, whereas the prevalence of high waist circumference and high waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was highest in females. The prevalence of poor glycaemic control was similar between males and females. Additionally, differences between ethnic groups were present for all variables other than hip circumference and diastolic BP (P<0.05). The prevalence of overweight, obesity, high waist circumference and impaired glycaemic control was highest in Black students, whereas the prevalence of high WHR and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was highest in Asian students. Finally, the prevalence of hypertension was highest in White students.
Conclusions: Overall, the results highlight differences in the prevalence of adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes in UK university students when separated by gender and ethnicity. These findings should be considered when developing strategies to promote healthy lifestyles in the context of higher education.

Background: Recently, the prevalence of adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes has increased in UK young adults. University students now make up a significant proportion of this population and their health-related behaviours are poorer than aged-matched normative data. Additionally, students experience negative changes in anthropometric outcomes during their university career, but the influence of university life on cardiometabolic health outcomes is currently unclear. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes in undergraduate university students and assess differences between year groups. Methods: Data were collected across three years (2021-2023). Three independent cohorts of students’ (n=1,299) completed five physiological tests. One-way ANOVAs were used to assess differences between year groups. Results: 34.5% were classified as having overweight or obesity and 19.0% had a ‘high’ or ‘very high’ waist circumference. 11.0% had a high waist to hip ratio (WHR) while 25.5% had a high waist to height ratio (WHtR). 12.7% were classified as hypertensive and 3.3% had a [HbA1c] ≥42mmol/mol, indicating impaired glucose regulation. The prevalence of overweight/obesity, high waist circumference and hypertension was highest in 3rd year students whereas the prevalence of high WHR, WHtR and [HbA1c] was highest in 1st year students. Third years had higher diastolic blood pressure than 2nd years, and 1st years had higher HbA1c than 2nd and 3rd years (P<0.01). Conclusion: Overall, these results indicate that the proportion of students presenting with adverse outcomes of cardiometabolic health is greater than or comparable to age-matched normative data. These data provide an update on the prevalence of adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes in UK university students and demonstrate that differences exist between year groups. Further longitudinal data is required to assess changes across a typical undergraduate degree program.

Introduction: Movement behaviours (physical activity – PA, sedentary behaviour and sleep) have been associated with physical, cognitive, socio-emotional and motor outcomes in early childhood, a critical period for child development, which have repercussions on health during adult life. However, previous studies report that Brazilian 3-to-5 year old children are below the recommended levels for movement behaviours, and there is no evidence regarding toddlers compliance with the World Health Organization´s (WHO) guidelines. Thus, this study aimed to assess the compliance with the 24 h Movement behaviours in a sample of low-income Brazilian toddlers.
Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 150 toddlers (75 girls) aged between 12-35 months. Participants wore accelerometers (Actigraph GT3X+) for 24 h over 7 consecutive days to assess physical activity. Parents reported children´s screen time, night sleep duration, and sociodemographic data. Nap time was registered by the research team. Toddlers were classified as compliant or non-compliant with the WHO movement behaviours guidelines: i) ≥180 minutes of PA; ii) 0 hour of sedentary screen time for those aged 1 year, and ≤1 hour for those aged 2 years; and iii) between 11 and 14 hours of good quality sleep, including naps, and percentage of compliance was calculated using SPSS ( 28.0). Results: For the general sample, none of the children complied with the screen time recommendation, 1% complied with sleep time, and less than 25%, independent of sex, complied with PA recommendations. Only 22% of children complied with all the three recommendations simultaneously. For boys and girls, movement behaviours compliance values were similar (20% and 24%, respectively). Conclusions: Very few Brazilian toddlers are compliant with the guidelines. Strategies and programs to promote compliance with movement behaviours guidelines should urgently consider toddlers, as a way to minimize the low compliance seen in preschoolers.

Introduction:
Numerous studies have shown that schoolchildren with low levels of adiposity and high levels of fitness have a lower risk of cardiorespiratory disease in later life. However, their effect on cognitive indicators is less clear. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationships between the profiles generated from fitness and fatness indicators and executive functions in secondary school students.

Methods: A total of 1158 secondary school students aged 11-16 years (M = 12.55; SD = 0.85) participated in the study. As fitness indicators, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was estimated from the 20 m shuttle run, upper body strength by dynamometry and lower body strength by the standing long jump test. Fatness was assessed by waist circumference. Executive functions (i.e., inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) were evaluated with NIH Examiner software. Latent profile analysis was performed using MPLUS, which identified the 4-profile option as the most plausible solution.

Results: The 4-profile solution showed: 1) slightly low fitness and fat profile; 2) very high fat, low CRF and slightly low strength; 3) slightly high fat, high fitness; and 4) slightly low fat, high CRF and slightly high strength. Profiles 3 and 4 showed better inhibition and cognitive flexibility than profiles 1 and 2, whereas profile 4 showed better working memory than profiles 1 and 2 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The results of this study highlight the need to implement strategies to promote healthy lifestyles in school children, not only to improve health parameters, but also to improve cognitive skills for better academic performance.

Rationale: Creative Health is an innovative approach that acknowledges the positive impact of creativity, culture, and heritage on health and wellbeing. Activities encompass a diverse range, including crafts, music, dance, film, literature, visual and digital arts, and theatre, as well as natural-built or intangible heritage. This approach is grounded in the growing evidence supporting the beneficial effects of arts and creativity in managing health, enhancing wellbeing, and addressing health inequalities. Additionally, it helps alleviate pressures on health systems. Creative Health strategies have proven effective in various settings such as hospitals, palliative units, mental health programmes, and community-focused interventions. These approaches transcend the challenges of traditional treatment, addressing issues such as language barriers, social inequalities, and access to affordable care. However, for an effective integration of creative health into health systems, we need further research. This presentation highlights Creative Health initiatives in Portugal and Spain, where a multitude of programs are already underway. However, these initiatives frequently function in isolation, underscoring the need for a more cohesive and integrated approach.
Aim: To gather information on institutions, associations, and groups in Portugal and Spain that employ Creative Health principles to enhance the health and wellbeing of communities.
Methodology: We conducted an online search to identify Creative Health entities engaged with communities in Portugal and Spain. We compiled results from peer-reviewed papers to grey literature and informal reports. Subsequently, we distributed an online survey to map the characteristics of the relevant entities and assess the degree of integration with local health systems.
Summary: While there is evidence of a broad array of successful Creative Health initiatives in Portugal and Spain, further research is essential to fully map their spec

The practice of Physical Activity (PA) in childhood is related to a healthy cardiometabolic, physical and psychosocial profile and to better motor and cognitive development, especially in terms of executive function (EF). It is also important to note that 24-hour movement behaviours, including PA, sedentary time, and sleep time, are influenced by each other. It is therefore crucial to understand the effects of PA, sedentary time and sleep in Cognitive Development (CD), namely EF, including Inhibitory Control (IC), Working Memory (WM) and Cognitive Flexibility (CF) in children.The objective of the present study was to relate PA, sedentary time and sleep hours with EF of preschool children.
The sample consisted of 102 children (aged between 3 and 5 years) from the Gym4PETIZ program, 52% girls and 48% boys. PA (counts/minute) and Sedentary Time were measured using ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers and PA diary, and Sleep was evaluated only through the PA diary; EF was evaluated through the Early Years ToolBox.
The main results, when analyzed by simple linear regression, demonstrated that Sleep ((CI-β=-0.518; p=0.000; R2=0.269); (WM- β=-0.307; p=0.010; R2=0.094)) and sedentary time ((CI-β=-0.408; p=0.000; R2=0.167); (WM- β=-0.327; p=0.05; R2=0.107)) have a significant negative effect on 2 of the 3 EF domains, and no significant results were found between EF and PA.
These results agree with the literature, in which it is reported that more time spent in sedentary behavior and sleep is associated with negative indicators for children’s development, justifying the importance of studying these themes.
The 24-hour movement behaviours are influenced by each other, however, more studies involving higher sample densities and more detailed variables, for example the type of sedentary behaviour or the quality of sleep time, are needed to solidify these results.

Introduction: Daily access to opportunities for physical activity (PA) and limited sedentary behaviour (SB) are recommended for health benefits in children. However, it is necessary to understand the day-to-day variability and how children from different socioeconomic groups accumulate these behaviours. Methods: This cross-sectional study included children aged five to 11 years, attending 37 primary schools in Bradford, UK. 800 children wore accelerometers over seven consecutive days, and day-to-day variability was calculated for each participant using the coefficient of variation (calculated as [standard deviation/mean of SB/MVPA across seven measurement days]*100%). Higher coefficient of variation percentages indicates higher variability and therefore low regularity of day-to-day moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and SB. The analysis included comparisons across behavioural indicators and sex, school year, and ethnicity (p<0.05). Results: Lower average values for MVPA (59.9 min/day), higher variability (42.5% vs 33.8%), and higher average values for SB (397.6 min/day) were observed in girls. Conversely, boys showed higher variability for SB (14.3%). Significant differences in MVPA averages were identified among children in school years 1, 2, and 3 (ages 5, 6, and 7 years old), and children from higher school years had higher averages for SB (370.9, 384.4, and 411.1 min/day). Regarding ethnicity, South Asian children had lower MVPA average compared to White British children (63.0 vs. 69.9 min/day), higher variability (40.9% vs. 36.4%), and higher SB average compared to all groups (400.3 min/day). Conversely, SB variability of White British children was higher (14.3% vs. 13.5%). Conclusion: Average daily and variability in MVPA and SB differed across sex, school year, and ethnicity of primary school children, indicating that girls and South Asian children are less active and more sedentary, and have less stability in daily patterns of physical activity.

Rationale: Dementia is a health condition marked by progressive cognitive decline and disability. Some motor issues become common in advanced stages. Recent studies indicate that motor issues may also appear in early stages. Handwriting, a tool for studying fine motor control or executive functioning in both healthy and unhealthy populations, displays changes at different stages of dementia.
Aims: The study aimed to develop a handwriting assessment protocol to better characterize the handwriting characteristics of individuals with dementia. This protocol is designed to deepen understanding in this area, potentially aid in early detection, and help in planning interventions.
Methods: The participants, aged 50 and above, both with and without dementia, are being recruited in the Évora region, Portugal. Sources include outpatient consultations at the Neurology Service of Hospital do Espírito Santo, day care centers, and residential facilities for the elderly. Participants are asked to complete handwriting tasks using paper, pencil, and a digital platform, while wearing an EEG cap to measure brain activity. This research, led by the University of Évora, received ethical approval (GD/40835/2021).
Results: Data are still being collected. Preliminary findings will be presented at the conference.
Summary: The study’s focus on handwriting as a putative aid in dementia diagnosis represents an innovative approach that may be of help in understanding and managing this complex condition.

30th Jan 2024

The combination of movement behaviours (MB) that occur during waking hours (i.e. sedentary behaviour and physical activity) have been shown to relate to cardiometabolic health (CH) indicators. However, most research focuses on the relationship of individual behaviours, neglecting how different compositions of MB throughout the day associate with CH. The aim of this study was to explore the optimal time spent engaging in sedentary behaviour (SB), light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for CH in children and adolescents.

The study used data from the International Children’s Accelerometry Database. Average time spent in SB, LPA and MVPA was measured using accelerometers. Nine CH indicators were assessed via blood samples (LDL and HDL, triglycerides, glucose, insulin), anthropometric measures (waist circumference, BMI), and automatic blood pressure monitors (systolic and diastolic), which were regressed against the time-use composition, adjusting for sex, age, fruit and vegetable intake, soft drink intake and household income. The models were used to estimate the optimal MB time-use composition associated with 5% best CH indicators (i.e. “Goldilocks Day”).

The compositional mean among all participants (n= 1,310; female= 55.9%; age= 11.1±2.5) consisted of 328 minutes SB, 383 minutes LPA and 47 minutes MVPA. Significant relationships were found between the MB time-use composition and all outcomes, excluding LDL cholesterol. For indicators of lipid and glucose metabolism, blood pressure and BMI, the Goldilocks Day consisted of less LPA and more MVPA, when compared to the overall compositional mean. For one indicator, HDL cholesterol, the Goldilocks Day consisted of more LPA and less MVPA.

Optimising time spent engaging in different MB can be an important way of preventing indicators related to increased risk of poorer CH. Public health guidance needs to take this into consideration when developing future recommendations.