Background
This study aimed to investigate the association between physical fitness and cardiometabolic health of Korean children and adolescents.
Methods
In total, 168 participants (89 boys and 79 girls) aged 10–16 years were recruited for the Intervention for Childhood and Adolescent Obesity via Activity and Nutrition Study in 2016. The subjects were categorized into two groups using the definition of metabolic syndrome by the International Diabetes Federation: metabolically unhealthy (with at least two of the five criteria) and healthy groups (with less than one criterion). Correlation analysis of the participants’ general characteristics was performed. Odds ratios (ORs) of physical fitness for cardiometabolic risk were evaluated via logistic regression.
Results
Metabolically unhealthy children showed greater weight, height, and body mass index, higher Children’s Depression Inventory score, and longer screen time than did the metabolically healthy children. Metabolically healthy children showed greater upper and lower extremity muscular strength than did the metabolically unhealthy children (P=0.04 and P<0.001, respectively). In the multiple logistic regression analysis, lower extremity muscle strength was inversely related to the clustered cardiometabolic risk of the children and adolescents with or without adjustment for confounders (OR, 4.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.87–9.97; OR, 7.64; 95% CI, 1.55– 37.74, respectively).
Conclusion
Physical fitness, especially lower extremity muscle strength, is significantly inversely associated with individual and clustered cardiometabolic risks in Korean children and adolescents.

Citations

• Profiles of Physical Fitness Among Youth with Intellectual Disabilities: A Longitudinal Person-Centered Investigation
  Christophe Maïano, Alexandre J. S. Morin, Olivier Hue, Danielle Tracey, Rhonda G. Craven
  Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Identification of biomarkers related to metabolically healthy or unhealthy obesity in children and adolescents with depressive disorders: a cross-sectional study
  Zhiwei Liu, Liang Sun, Fengshun Li, Tengjiao Liu, XingLong Yin, Jingjing Zhang, Nana Sun, Yulong Zhang, Gaofeng Yao, Yun Liu
  Scientific Reports.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity, Fitness and Indicators of Cardiometabolic Risk among Rural Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study at 15-Year Follow-up of the MINIMat Cohort
  Mohammad Redwanul Islam, Christine Delisle Nyström, Maria Kippler, Eero Kajantie, Marie Löf, Syed Moshfiqur Rahman, Eva-Charlotte Ekström
  Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health.2024; 14(3): 987.     CrossRef
• Metabolic syndrome and its association with physical activity in Sudanese early adolescents – Khartoum state, Sudan: An observational study
  Fatima A. Elfaki, Aziza I. G. Mukhayer, Mohamed E. Moukhyer, Rama M. Chandika, Husameldin E. Khalafalla, Stef P. J. Kremers
  Medicine.2024; 103(23): e38242.     CrossRef
• Effect of a physical exercise program supported by wearable technology in children with drug-resistant epilepsy. A randomized controlled trial
  Salvador Ibañez-Micó, Rosa Gil-Aparicio, Antonia Gómez-Conesa
  Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy.2024; 121: 56.     CrossRef
• Correlation of anthropometric characteristics and movement behavior with lower extremity muscle power and dynamic knee valgus in adolescent basketball athletes
  Aleksandar STOJILJKOVIC, Eleni KARAGIANNI, Antoniou VARSAMO, Ladislav BATALIK, Garyfallia PEPERA
  The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Analysis of gross motoric analysis of elementary school students: A comparative study of students in hill and coastal areas
  Y Touvan Juni Samodra, Didi Suryadi, Isti Dwi Puspita Wati, Eka Supriatna, I Gusti Putu Ngurah Adi Santika, Mikkey Anggara Suganda, Putu Citra Permana Dewi
  Pedagogy of Physical Culture and Sports.2023; 27(2): 139.     CrossRef
• Muscular Fitness and Cardiometabolic Variables in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review
  Tiago Rodrigues de Lima, Priscila Custódio Martins, Yara Maria Franco Moreno, Jean-Philippe Chaput, Mark Stephen Tremblay, Xuemei Sui, Diego Augusto Santos Silva
  Sports Medicine.2022; 52(7): 1555.     CrossRef
• Neck circumference and cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents: the moderator role of cardiorespiratory fitness
  Ana Paula Sehn, Caroline Brand, Letícia Welser, Anelise Reis Gaya, Cesar Agostinis-Sobrinho, Carlos Cristi-Montero, Elza Daniel de Mello, Cézane Priscila Reuter
  BMC Pediatrics.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Physical fitness as a moderator in the relationship between adiposity and cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents
  Caroline Brand, Ana P. Sehn, Anelise R. Gaya, Jorge Mota, Javier Brazo-Sayavera, Jane D. Renner, Cézane P. Reuter
  The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness.2020;[Epub]     CrossRef

Citations

• Effects of Structured Aerobic Exercise on Selected Clinical Profiles of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
  Nmachukwu Ifeoma Ekechukwu, Stella Udumma Anwara, Ukamaka Gloria Mgbeojedo, Olive U. Chijioke, Okechukwu Steven Onwukwe, Uchechukwu Anthonia Ezugwu, Echezona Nelson Dominic Ekechukwu, Ijeoma L. Okoronkwo
  International Journal of Medicine and Health Development.2021; 26(1): 17.     CrossRef
• Effects of a 12-week moderate-intensity exercise training on blood glucose response in patients with type 2 diabetes
  Shang-Lin Chiang, Margaret McLean Heitkemper, Yi-Jen Hung, Wen-Chii Tzeng, Meei-Shyuan Lee, Chia-Huei Lin
  Medicine.2019; 98(36): e16860.     CrossRef
• Association between Homeostasis assessment-insulin resistance and 6-minute Walking Distance in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
  Yoshikazu HIRASAWA, Yasunori UMEMOTO
  Rigakuryoho kagaku.2016; 31(3): 399.     CrossRef
• Preventivní kardiologie v praxi
  Martina Vitásková, Pavel Suchánek, Jaroslava Štochlová, Irena Houšková, Alena Karbanová, Irena Masáková, Martin Kleissner, Martin Bláha, Jan Beneš, Renata Langová, Veronika Hošková, Olga Řeháková, Věra Adámková
  Cor et Vasa.2013; 55(6): 692.     CrossRef

Background
: Physical fitness is defined as the ability to carry out work necessary for muscle exercise satisfactorily. Generally, obese person have been considered to have low physical performance. In addition, obesity has been known to be a risk factor of cardiovascular disease such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and coronary arterial disease. Based on previous epidemiologic studies, abdominal obesity, especially, visceral obesity, is thought to be more important risk factor for cardiovascular disease rather than obesity itself. Therefore, the interest on assessment of abdominal visceral fat has been increasing. The aim of this study was to see the difference in physical fitness and blood pressure according to obesity degree assessed by BMI, and compare the anthropometric obesity indices with abdominal visceral fat accumulation measured by abdominal CT (Computed Tomogram).

Methods : Four hundred thirty-two subjects, who participated in the exercise program for more than one month duration at the 'Clinic for Obesity' in St. Mary's Hospital from November 1998 to June 2000, were included in the analysis. They were categorized into 4 groups [severe obesity group (BMI≥30), obesity group (25≤BMI＜30), overweight group (23≤BMI＜25), normal group (BMI＜23)] according to their BMI. Blood pressure, anthropometric obesity indices and physical fitness (V0₂ max, back muscle strength, sit up, forward bending, vertical jump, side step, balance) were measured by one skillful exercise trainer. Among them, one hundred thirty-one subjects performed abdominal CT to assess visceral fatness. We compared anthropometric indices (waist to hip ratio, body mass index, abdominal circumference, skin foldness) with abdominal visceral fat accumulation measured by CT.

Results : Blood pressure, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, muscle strength, speed and balance were significantly different among the four groups categorized by BMI in both sexes, but flexibility and agility were not significant. In women, the correlation coefficients between visceral fat area measured by abdominal CT and each of waist to hip ratio, BMI, abdominal circumference, and skin foldness adjusted for age were 0.487, 0.479, 0.464, 0.31, respectively (P＜0.01). However in men, there were no significant correlations.

Conclusion : Obesity tended to increase blood pressure, and reduce physical performance. Only in women, obesity related indices reflected the abdominal visceral fat accumulation.

Background
: Physiological fatigue due to excessive physical activities and lack of proper rest is commonly observed among workers. Previous studies suggested that physiological fatigue can be related to individual physical fitness. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between physical fitness and the degree of fatigue in 95 female employees in general hospitals.

Methods : Subjects were healthy adults female volunteers who were employed by two general hospitals located in Seoul and Kyunggido. The degree of fatigue using fatigue severity scale and physical fitness including % body fat, waist-hip ratio, maximal oxygen uptake, both grip strengths, back muscle strength, sit ups, flexibility, and broad jump were assessed. Data were strengths, back muscle strength, sit ups, flexibility, and broad jump were assessed. Data were analysed to examine the relationship between the degree of fatigue and each physical fitness.

Results : 1. Fatigue severity scale was significantly increased with increasing age and commuting time. Drinking alcohol was significantly related to increased fatigue severity scale.
2. Fatigue severity scale was significantly decreased with increasing number of family members and length of service.
3. Fatigue severity scale was significantly decreased with increasing both grip strengths, maximal O₂uptake, and sit ups.

Conclusion : The physical fitness factors including both grip strengths, maximal O₂uptake, and sit ups were considered to be important predictors in the evaluation of the degree of physiological fatigue.

Background
: Previous studies have suggested that regular exercise may increase bone mineral density. However the effects on bone mineral density are different depending on the types of exercises and recent studies on the effects of different exercises on bone mineral density are insufficient. This study was conducted to assess the effects of 2 different exercises(Judo, Taekwondo) and physical fitness(back muscle strength, grip strength, broad jump, vertical jump, flexibility, sit ups) on regional BMD.

Methods : Subjects were healthy adults female volunteers aged 19 to 22 years and consisted of eight Judo athletes, twelve Taekwondo athletes, and eight nonathletic controls. We measured their bone mineral density of lumbar spine, femur neck, femoral greater trochanter, Ward's triangle, femoral shaft and distal radius using dual exergy X-ray absorptiometry and assessed their physical fitness. We investigated the mean differences of regional bone mineral density between the groups and the relationships between physical fitness and regional bone mineral density.

Results : ANCOVA revealed that there were significant differences in the regional bone mineral density between the groups. The Judo athletes group had significantly higher bone density of greater trochanter, femoral shaft, distal radius, femoral neck and lumbar spine that the control group and had significantly higher bone density of greater trochanter, femoral shaft and distal radius than the Taekwondo athletes group. There were no significant differences of bone density in all the regions between the Taekwondo athletes and the control groups. Partial correlation coefficients between the back muscle strength and the bone density of Ward's triangle, greater trochanter, distal radius, femoral neck, femoral shaft, and lumbar were 0.581, 0.570, 0.526, 0.502, 0.424 and 0.418, respectively(P<0.05). Correlation coefficients between the broad jump and the bone density of femoral neck, greater trochanter, and femoral shaft were 0.577, 0.539 and 0.457, respectively(P<0.05). Correlations of the grip strength, flexibility, sit ups and vertical jump with bone density of all regions were not high(r≤0.5).

Conclusion : Different types of exercises showed different effects of bone density. The back muscle strength among the physical fitness factors was considered to be the most important predictor of bone density. In the future, further studies are necessary for the effects of other exercises on bone density.

Background
: Previously, a large epidemiological study has found that an increase in the serum triglyceride level is an independent risk factor of coronary artery disease and by treating it, the mortality due to coronary artery disease could be decreased. Our study is designed to analyze the serum triglyceride level in healthy adults and to study various factors influencing the serum triglyceride level.

Methods : Study involved all patients who visited Seoul National University Hospital Health Promotion Center from May 1995 to Feb 1997. After a complete history and a physical examination, each participant answered a questionnaire involving sociodemographics, tobacco, alcohol, exercise, menstrual cycle and daily dietary contents. A blood chemistry was also drawn after 12 hours of fasting. We used analysis of covariance and multiple regression analysis to correlate triglyceride level with forementioned variables.

Results : Healthy 3,332 men and 2,986 women were statistically analyzed. The average triglyceride level was 110.7mg/dl(geometric mean). Men at 50's had the highest level of triglyceride. As women aged, their triglyceride level increased. The proportion of participants in their 40's in men and 70's and over in women with triglyceride >220mg/dl, a value of clinical importance, was 19.0% and 18.4%, respectively. The triglyceride level changed significantly according to BMI, exercise, physical fitness, alcohol, tobacco, blood pressure, uric acid and glucose. However, no statistically significant difference was found among diet, thyroid function, income and region. For men, a multiple regression analysis revealed that the factors influencing triglyceride level in decreasing order, were BMI, uric acid, tobacco, diastolic blood pressure, ALT and maximal oxygen uptake. However, for women, a similar analysis showed that BMI, systolic blood pressure, exercise, tobacco and age played a significant role(p<0.001).

Conclusion : Serum triglyceride level was associated with correctable behavioral factors such as obesity, smoking, alcohol, exercise, and physical fitness. Among these factors obesity was the most related factor with triglyceride level.