Health Promotion & Physical Activity

Obesity measures and heart disease risks— the risks of overtraining and being underweight

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Purpose: Obesity and abnormal fat distribution are major components of the Cardiovascular–Kidney–Metabolic (CKM) syndrome and are strongly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the comparative performance of different anthropometric measures and the modifying role of physical activity remain incompletely defined. We aimed to examine the associations between body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), physical activity, and prevalent CVD in a large population-based cohort.
Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of UK Biobank participants aged 40–69 years. After excluding individuals with missing data, N = 489909 participants were included. Prevalent CVD was defined as a history of angina, myocardial infarction, or stroke at baseline assessment. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between anthropometric measures and CVD, adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, and major comorbidities. Physical activity was analyzed by type and duration. Results are reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Results: BMI showed a U-shaped association with CVD, with higher prevalence observed at both low (<18.5 kg/m²) and high (>25 kg/m²) values. WHtR was positively associated with CVD across its range, whereas BFP provided little additional predictive value after adjustment. Moderate physical activity was associated with lower odds of CVD, while very high volumes of vigorous activity showed no additional benefit and were associated with slightly higher CVD prevalence.

Physical activity levels, sedentary behaviors, and physical fitness of female adolescents with and without intellectual disabilities attending school in Kinshasa

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

The aim of this study was to compare physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and physical fitness (PF) levels in female adolescents with and without intellectual disability (ID). An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, with 247 female adolescents with 123 with ID and 124 without ID, over a three-month period from 1st November 2022, to 28th February 2023. PF parameters such as balance, flexibility, and arm strength from the EUROFIT battery were assessed in both groups. These were complemented by the assessment of PA and sedentary behavior in the school setting using the CAPAS-Q 8–18 year questionnaire. Female Adolescents with ID had significantly lower PF scores in the balance, flexibility and arm strength components compared to their peers without ID (p < 0.001). They also exhibited higher body fat mass and lower muscle mass (p < 0.001). At school, they spend fewer hours in physical activity, less time walking or running, do not sweat, feel less stuffy while walking, and climb fewer flights of stairs compared to their peers without intellectual disability (p < 0.001). Furthermore, they spend more time sitting and in front of screens per day (p < 0.001). A significant association was observed between body composition parameters and physical activity (p < 0.001). Female adolescents with ID have higher fat mass and reduced lean mass. They also have lower levels of PA and increased sedentary behavior. Finally, an association between body composition parameters and PF was observed.