Int J Sports Med 2002; 23(S1): 8-14
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-28455
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

The Relationship Between Physical Fitness and Physical Activity During Adolescence and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors at Adult Age. The Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study

J.  W.  R.  Twisk1, 2 , H.  C.  G.  Kemper2 , W.  van Mechelen2, 3
  • 1Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Centre (VUMC), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 2Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Centre (VUMC), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 3Department of Social Medicine, VU University Medical Centre (VUMC), Body@Work, Research Centre “Work, Physical Activity and Health”, TNO VU, Amsterdam , The Netherlands
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
13 May 2002 (online)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between physical activity and physical fitness during adolescence (between 13 and 16 years of age) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors at adult age (32 years). The following CVD risk factors were considered: lipoprotein levels (total serum cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), the TC:HDL ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and indicators for body fatness and body fat distribution (sum of four skinfolds, waist to hip ratio, waist circumference). The data were derived from the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study, an observational longitudinal study in which eight repeated measurements were carried out over a period of 20 years. Physical fitness (measured by maximal oxygen uptake per kg bodyweight and by maximal slope reached on a treadmill test) during adolescence was related to a healthy CVD risk profile at the age of 32 years (i. e. inversely to the sum of four skinfolds, waist circumference and to total serum cholesterol). Physical activity during adolescence was not related to a healthy CVD risk profile at the age of 32 years.

References

  • 1 Alpert B, Wilmore J H. Physical activity and blood pressure in adolescents.  Ped Exerc Sci. 1994;  6 361-380
  • 2 Armstrong N, Simons-Morton B. Physical activity and blood lipids in adolescents.  Ped Exerc Sci. 1994;  6 381-405
  • 3 Armstrong N, van Mechelen W. Are young people fit and active?. In: Biddle S, Sallis J, Cavill N (eds) Young and Active? Young People and Health-Enhancing Physical Activity - Evidence and Implications. London, UK; Health Education Authority 1998: 69-97
  • 4 Bar-Or O, Baranowski T. Physical activity, adiposity, and obesity among adolescents.  Ped Exerc Sci. 1994;  6 348-360
  • 5 Baranowski T, Bouchard C, Bar-Or O, Bricker T, Heath G, Kimm S YS, Malina R, Obarzanek E, Pate R, Strong W B, Truman B, Washington R. Assessment, prevalence and cardiovascular benefits of physical activity and fitness in youth.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992;  24 S237-S247
  • 6 Blair S N. Changes in physical fitness and all-cause mortality.  JAMA. 1995;  273 1093-1098
  • 7 Caspersen C J. Physical activity epidemiology, concepts, methods and applications to exercise science.  Exerc Sports Sci Rev. 1989;  17 423-473
  • 8 Helmrich S P, Ragland D R, Leung R W. Physical activity and reduced occurrence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.  N Engl J Med. 1991;  325 147-152
  • 9 Kemper H CG, Verschuur R. Maximal aerobic power in 13- and 14-year old teenagers in relation to biological age.  Int J Sports Med. 1981;  2 97-100
  • 10 Kemper H CG. The Amsterdam Growth Study. A longitudinal analysis of health, fitness and lifestyle. HK Sports Science Monograph Series. Human Kinetics Publishers 1995 6
  • 11 Leon A S, Connet J, Jacobs D R Jr. Leisure-time physical activity levels and risk of coronary heart disease and death: The Multiple Risk Factor Intervention trial.  JAMA. 1987;  258 2388-2395
  • 12 Marti B, Tuomilehto J, Salomaa V. Body fat distribution in the Finnish population: environmental determinations and predictive power for cardiovascular risk factor levels.  J Epidemiol Community Health. 1991;  45 131-137
  • 13 Newman W P III, Freedman D S, Voors A W. Relation of serum lipoprotein levels and systolic blood pressure to early atherosclerosis: The Bogalusa Heart Study.  New Engl J Med. 1986;  314 138-144
  • 14 Paffenbarger R S. Contributions of epidemiology to exercise science and cardiovascular health.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1988;  20 426-438
  • 15 Pate R R, Long B J, Heath G. Descriptive epidemiology of physical activity in adolescents.  Ped Exerc Sci. 1994;  6 434-447
  • 16 Powel K E, Blair S N. The public health burden of sedentary living habits: theoretical but realistic estimates.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994;  26 851-856
  • 17 Riddoch C J. Relationships between physical activity and health in young people. In: Biddle S, Sallis J, Cavill N (eds) Young and Active? Young People and Health-Enhancing Physical Activity - Evidence and Implications. London, UK; Health Education Authority 1998: 17-48
  • 18 Seidel J C, Cigolini M, Deslypere J P. Body fat distribution in relation to physical activity and smoking habits in 38-year old European man.  Am J Epidemiol. 1991;  133 257-265
  • 19 SPSS-X user's guide. 3rd edition .Chicago Illinois; SPPS Inc 1988
  • 20 Staessen J A, Fagard R, Amery A. Life style as a determinant of blood pressure in the general population.  Am J Hypertens. 1994;  7 685-694
  • 21 Strong W B, Deckelbaum R J, Gidding S S. Integrated cardiovascular health promotion in childhood.  Circulation. 1992;  85 1638-1650
  • 22 Twisk J WR, Mellenbergh G J, van Mechelen W. Tracking of biological and lifestyle cardiovascular risk factors over a 14-year period.  Am J Epidemiol. 1997;  145 888-898
  • 23 Twisk J WR. Physical activity, physical fitness and cardiovascular health. In: Armstrong N, van Mechelen W (eds) Oxford Textbook of Paediatric Exercise Science in Medicine. Oxford, UK; Oxford Medical Publications 2000: 253-263
  • 24 Verschuur R. Daily physical activity and health. Longitudinal changes during the teenage period. Thesis Universiteit van Amsterdam. Haarlem; de Vrieseborch SO12 1987
  • 25 Weiner J S, Lourie J A. Human Biology: A guide to field methods. Oxford; Blackwell 1996

J. W. R. Twisk

EMGO-Institute · VU University Medical Centre

v.d. Boechorststraat 7 · 1081 BT Amsterdam · The Netherlands ·

Phone: +31-20-4448405

Fax: +31-20-4448181

Email: JWR.TWISK.EMGO.MED.VU.NL

    >