Browsing by Author "Mota, Jorge"
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- Associations between fruit and vegetable variety and low-grade inflammation in Portuguese adolescents from LabMed physical activity studyPublication . Almeida-de-Souza, Juliana; Santos, Rute; Lopes, Luís; Abreu, Sandra; Moreira, Carla; Padrão, Patrícia; Mota, Jorge; Moreira, PedroPurpose: The dietary guidelines for the consumption of a variety of fruits and vegetables have been recognized as an important factor for achieving healthy eating patterns to reduce the risk of chronic disease throughout the lifespan. Our aim is to assess the association between fruit and vegetable variety and low-grade inflammation in adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis was conducted with 412 adolescents (ages 14.4 ± 1.7 years; 52% girls). The consumption of a variety of fruits and vegetables was assessed with a food-frequency questionnaire, considering the number of individual/category of fruit or vegetable intake at least once month, and categorized into tertiles. Blood samples were collected to determine C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), complement component 3 (C3), and 4 (C4). We created categories of lower or higher (inflammatory state) for each biomarker, considering sex- and age-adjusted median values. Then, we computed an overall inflammatory score, by adding all points awarded wherein one point was assigned if biomarker was higher or zero if lower, and created categories of 0–1 or 2–4 biomarkers above the median. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% interval confidence (95% CI) were calculated from binary logistic regression to estimate the magnitude of association between fruit and vegetable variety and inflammatory biomarkers. Results: Adolescents with a greater variety of vegetable consumption (≥13 categories/month) had lower odds of having a higher CRP (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.15–0.64, ptrend = 0.004) when compared to those with lower variety consumption (≤6 categories/month), independent of vegetable quantity intake. However, a greater variety of fruit consumption (≥12 categories/month) had higher odds of having a higher IL-6 (OR 4.41, 95% CI 1.67–11.71, ptrend = 0.012), C3 (OR 3.30, 95% CI 1.23–8.86, ptrend = 0.047), and inflammatory score (OR 4.90, 95% CI 1.62–14.86, ptrend = 0.017), when compared to those with lower variety consumption (≤9 categories/month), independent of fruit quantity intake, only for girls. Conclusions: The consumption of a variety of vegetables is inversely associated with lower CRP. This finding supports the current dietary guidelines regarding the consumption of a variety of vegetables. The role of fruit variety in low-grade inflammation should be further studied.
- Biofeedback system in remotely monitored exercise program in pregnant women with obesity: a pre-experimental researchPublication . Bernardo, Diana; Carvalho, Carlos; Leirós Rodrígues, Raquel; Martins, Cristina; Morais, Joana; Mota, Jorge; Santos, Paula ClaraE-health programs may be an excellent strategy to overcome some barriers related to the non-practice of exer- cise among pregnant women with obesity. This study aims to present a monitored exercise program for pregnant women with obesity using the Sword Phoenix® biofeedback system; and to evaluate pregnant women's perception of the biofeedback system and the exer- cise program protocol. Methods: A pre-experimental research was done through a One-shot case study design. Twelve pregnant women with Body Mass Index ≥ 30 kg/m2 , were invited to perform for two weeks a home-based structured exercise program protocol with a digital biofeedback system, during exercise the women used an accelerometer to measure the intensity of the exercises. At the end of the two-week exercise period, the pregnant women filled in a questionnaire to assess their perception of usability, satisfaction, safety and motivation regarding exercise program and biofeedback system. Results: The accelerometry results indicate that, during the exercise program protocol, the pregnant women spent 79.3% of the time in moderate activities. The adherence to the program had an average performance of 40%. The results of the questionnaire demonstrated that 100% (n=12) of the participants enjoyed the system and recognized it as a safe instrument with the potential to increase physical activity during pregnancy. Discussion: The biofeedback system can be a useful tool for implementing an exercise program for pregnant women with obesity. The proposed exercise program complies with international recommendations for physical exercise during pregnancy, ensuring safety. Additionally, it reduces the team intervention, increases participant motivation, and has the potential to reduce sedentary behavior in pregnant women with obesity
- Dietary inflammatory index and inflammatory biomarkers in adolescents from LabMed physical activity studyPublication . Almeida-de-Souza, Juliana; Santos, Rute; Barros, Renata; Abreu, Sandra; Moreira, Carla; Lopes, Luís; Mota, Jorge; Moreira, PedroBackground/objectives The dietary inflammatory index (DII) is a tool to measure the diet’s inflammatory potential and has been used with adults to predict low-grade inflammation. The present study aims to assess whether this dietary score predicts low-grade inflammation in adolescents. Subjects/methods The sample comprises 329 adolescents (55.9% girls), aged 12–18 years, from LabMed Physical Activity Study. DII score was calculated based on a food-frequency questionnaire and categorized into tertiles. We collected blood samples to determine the follow inflammatory biomarkers: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), complement component 3 (C3), and 4 (C4). In addition we calculated an overall inflammatory biomarker score. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were computed from binary logistic regression models. Results DII score, comparing first with third tertile, was positively associated with IL-6 in crude model (OR = 1.88, 95% CI:1.09–3.24, ptrend = 0.011) and in fully adjusted (for biological and lifestyle variables) (OR = 3.38, 95%CI:1.24–9.20, ptrend = 0.023). Also, DII score was positively associated with C4, when fully adjusted (OR = 3.12, 95%CI:1.21–8.10, ptrend = 0.016). DII score was negatively associated with C3 in crude model, comparing first with second but not with third tertile, and no significant associations in fully adjusted model were observed, although a trend was found (OR = 1.71, 95% CI:0.63–4.66, ptrend = 0.044). No significant associations were observed between DII score and CRP. However, DII score was positively associated with the overall inflammatory biomarker score, when fully adjusted (OR = 5.61, 95% CI:2.00–15.78, ptrend = 0.002). Conclusions DII score can be useful to assess the diet’s inflammatory potential and its association with low-grade inflammation in adolescents.
- Do boys and girls achieve di!erent results?" Changes in physical activity and adiposity: acorda projectPublication . Aires, Luísa; Silva, Gustavo Gonçalves; Lagoa, Maria João; Martins, Clarice; Ribeiro, José Carlos; Ferro-Lebres, Vera; Mota, JorgeSchool-based interventions show inconsistent results in reducing obesity-related problems. Most of intervention studies are targeting girls because they have shown lower rates of physical activity and higher prevalence of obesity. ! The aim of this study was to compare the changes observed in BMI, percentage of Body Fat, percentage of Trunk Fat and Moderate to Vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels between boys and girls engaged in a school-based intervention program.Significant improvements in body composition and MVPA levels were observed in boys, but not in girls, after 8 months intervention. In accordance with previous findings, these results showed that gender may influence response to intervention programs and generalization of treatment effects may depend on gender-specificities and programs characteristics.!
- Do boys and girls achieve different results?" Changes in physical activity and adiposity: acorda projectPublication . Aires, Luísa; Silva, Gustavo Gonçalves; Lagoa, Maria João; Martins, Clarice; Ribeiro, José Carlos; Ferro-Lebres, Vera; Mota, JorgeSchool-based interventions show inconsistent results in reducing obesity-related problems. Most of intervention studies are targeting girls because they have shown lower rates of physical activity and higher prevalence of obesity. ! The aim of this study was to compare the changes observed in BMI, percentage of Body Fat, percentage of Trunk Fat and Moderate to Vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels between boys and girls engaged in a school-based intervention program.Significant improvements in body composition and MVPA levels were observed in boys, but not in girls, after 8 months intervention. In accordance with previous findings, these results showed that gender may influence response to intervention programs and generalization of treatment effects may depend on gender-specificities and programs characteristics.
- Flexibility is associated with motor competence in schoolchildrenPublication . Lopes, Luís; Póvoas, S.; Mota, Jorge; Okely, A.D.; Coelho-e-Silva, M.J.; Cliff, D.P.; Lopes, Vitor P.; Santos, RuteAvailable data on the associations between motor competence (MC) and flexibility are limited and result inconclusive. This study aims to examine the relationship between flexibility and MC in children. The sample comprised 596 Portuguese children (47.1% girls) aged 9.7± 0.6 years. Motor competence was evaluated with the body coordination test, Korperkoordination Test fur Kinder. Cardiorespiratory fitness (20-m shuttle run), muscular strength (curl-up and push-up tests), and flexibility (back-saver sit and reach and trunk-lift tests) were evaluated using the Fitnessgram Test Battery. Z-scores by age and gender for the physical fitness tests were constructed. Analysis of variance and regression analysis were performed. Participants in the healthy zone groups of both flexibility tests exhibited significantly better scores of MC than the participants under the healthy zone (P < 0.001). Back-saver sit and reach and trunk-lift Z-scores, either individually or as a sum, were significant predictors of MC (P < 0.05 for all) after adjustments for the other physical fitness components, age, body mass index, and socioeconomic status, in both genders. Our findings highlight the importance of promoting and developing flexibility, as well as the other health-related physical fitness components in schoolchildren to reach adequate levels of MC
- Influence of physical activity on self-esteem and anxiety during pregnancy: a longitudinal prospective studyPublication . Santos, Paula Clara; Bernardo, Diana; Abdalla, Pedro Pugliesi; Leirós-Rodríguez, Raquel; Silva, Leonardo Santos Lopes; Mesquita, Cristina Carvalho; Mota, Jorge; Machado, DalmoWomen’s pregnancy increases the odds of developing anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Physical activity can reduce the severity of maternal mental disorders and postpartum symptoms. The aim was to evaluate self-esteem, anxiety, and physical activity patterns among healthy pregnant women during three gestational trimesters (GTs). (2) Methods: A longitudi- nal prospective study involving 248 Portuguese pregnant women, monitored for a year during all GTs, was conducted. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect personal and obstetric data, and Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale, Zung Anxiety Scale, and a Pregnancy Physical Activity Ques- tionnaire were applied. (3) Results: A total of 152 women presented valid follow-up data considered for analysis. All test scores do not present normality (p < 0.001). Over the gestational trimesters, the Zung anxiety scores did not show a significant change between GTs. However, the self-esteem values reduced significantly from 1st to 2nd GT: (1st GT = 43.94 (±9.94) [95%CI: 42.37 to 45.53]; 2nd GT = 27.27 (±9.64) [95%CI: 25.74 to 28.81]; 3rd GT = 25.71 (±10.52) [95%CI: 24.04 to 27.39]; p < 0.001), remaining stable in the last GT. Moderate to vigorous (2nd GT = 73.43 (±88.69) [95%CI: 59.34 to 87.54]; 3rd GT = 65.05 (±82.65) [95%CI: 51.92 to 78.19]; p = 0.008), vigorous (1st GT = 0.45 (±3.95) [95%CI: 0.83 to 2.08]; 2nd GT = 1.63 (±3.52) [95%CI: 1.07 to 2.19]; 3rd GT = 0.81 (±2.16) [95%CI: 0.46 to 1.15]; p = 0.0475), and light (2nd GT = 101.68 (±48.77) [95%CI: 93.93 to 109.44]; 3rd GT = 98.42 (±49.05) [95%CI: 90.62 to 106.22]; p < 0.001) physical activity levels were significantly reduced throughout the GTs, but the time spent in sedentary activities did not change. (4) Conclusions: In this follow-up study, it was possible to identify a critical point in the 2nd GT, when the drastic reduction in physical activity levels coincided with periods of lower self-esteem scores. However, anxiety levels do not seem to change over GTs.
- Nutritional and physical activity knowledge association with body fat in adolescentsPublication . Ribeiro, José Carlos; Ferro-Lebres, Vera; Silva, Gustavo Gonçalves; Mota, Jorge; Moreira, PedroKnowledge enhancement hás been referred as a mean to improve nutrition and physical activity, and reduce obesity. This work aimed to identify the difference ofnutrition and physical activity knowledge according to body fat and physical activity leveis in adolescents. Methods: This study vvas a cross sectional analysis involving 734 adolescents. Body fat was detennined using electric bioimpedance, and physical activity was assessed by accelerometer. Adolescents were divided in groups according to physical activity leveis (high versus low) aiid body fat (overfat veisus non-overfat). Thcy were then divided into four groups: "high physical activity/ non-overfat"; "high physical activity/ overfat"; "low physical activity/ non-overfat"; and "lowphysical activity/ overfat". Nutrition and Physical knowledge was assessed by questionnaires. Results: Body tat percentage exposed 30.8 % overfatí obcsc adolescents, and daily moderate to vigoroiis physical activity lasted in average 47.9 (SD=27. 49) minutes. High physical activity adolescents presented higher physical activity knowledge (p=. 044) and the low physical activity/overfat group scored fhe worst on experts' nutritional recommendations knowledge.
- Objectively measured sedentary time and academic achievement in schoolchildrenPublication . Lopes, Luís; Santos, Rute; Mota, Jorge; Pereira, Beatriz; Lopes, Vitor P.This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between objectively measured total sedentary time and academic achievement (AA) in Portuguese children. The sample comprised of 213 children (51.6% girls) aged 9.46 ± 0.43 years, from the north of Portugal. Sedentary time was measured with accelerometry, and AA was assessed using the Portuguese Language and Mathematics National Exams results. Multilevel linear regression models were fitted to assess regression coefficients predicting AA. The results showed that objectively measured total sedentary time was not associated with AA, after adjusting for potential confounders
- Physical activity levels and nutritional knowledge’s among children and adolescentsPublication . Ribeiro, José Carlos; Ramos, Helena; Ferro-Lebres, Vera; Aires, Luísa; Mota, Jorge; Guimarães, Nuno; Esteves, Raquel; Moreira, Pedro; Marçal, GustavoChildhood obesity is a consequence of environments that disrupt the balance of energy intake and energy expenditure. Obesogenic environments consist of social norms and environmental factors that facilitate unhealthy behaviors around diet and physical activity. Nutritional knowledge and physical activity are cornerstones of every obesity treatment. The aims are to understand and compare how nutritional knowledge and physical activily panerns occur in children and adolescents, and if there's any differences by gender. Methods Sample comprised 467 children and adolescents, 237 boys. PA was measured using Actigraph accelerometers (GTSXsl^ Participants were instructed to use the accelerometer, according to standard procedures, and data analyzed using the recommended guidelines (Evenson et al, 2008) Nutritional Knowledge INKI was assessed using the General Nutrition Questionnaire for Portuguese Adolescent, and results presented as a Final Nutritional Score, in accordance with standard procedures (Ferro-Lebres, V, Ribeiro, J, Moreira, P, 2014). Height, weight body mass index were also assessed. Univariate Analysis of Variance-GLM was used to compare genders ad|usted to different school leveis of the studente, using SPSS. Results Our results present higher (p<0,05| nutritional scores for"girls (67,11 than boys (63,6 scorel. Opposed to these results boys los expectedl significantly present higher amounts of moderate to vigorous PA compared to girls 171,6 min. /day vs 42,3 min. /day; p<0, 01|. Additionally, we have 14,7% overweight/obese girls and 17,4% overweight/obese boys. Discussion Other studies have obsen/ed similar results regarding MVPA in boys and girls, but the NK about diet and nutritïon is also crucial for the treatment ond prevention of obesity in chiidren. Therefore ifs important to understand if higher scores in NK would lead to better nutritional practices; would it be possible that inaeasing studenfs NK about food contents regarding different nutrients could improve their daily practices. Do children and adolescents that have better NK behave differently regarding PA practices?