Active relatives and health-related physical fitness in European adolescents: The HELENA Study |
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| Authors: | Miguel Martín-Matillas Francisco B Ortega Jonatan R Ruiz David Martínez-Gómez Germán Vicente-Rodríguez Ascensión Marcos |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Physical Education and Sport , School of Sport Sciences, University of Granada , Spain;2. Unit for Preventive Nutrition, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at NOVUM , Karolinska Institutet , Huddinge , Sweden miguelaujar@ugr.es;4. Unit for Preventive Nutrition, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at NOVUM , Karolinska Institutet , Huddinge , Sweden;5. Department of Medical Physiology , School of Medicine, University of Granada , Spain;6. Unit for Preventive Nutrition, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at NOVUM , Karolinska Institutet , Huddinge , Sweden;7. Immunonutrition Research Group, Department of Metabolism and Nutrition , Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition (Former Instituto del Frio), Spanish National Research Council , Madrid , Spain;8. Department of Physical Education, Sport and Human Movement , University Autonomous of Madrid , Madrid , Spain;9. GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) research group. E.U. Health sciences , University of Zaragoza , Zaragoza , Spain;10. Immunonutrition Research Group, Department of Metabolism and Nutrition , Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition (Former Instituto del Frio), Spanish National Research Council , Madrid , Spain |
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| Abstract: | Abstract High physical fitness in childhood and adolescence is positively associated with favourable health-related outcomes. Our aim was to examine the relationship between relatives’ (father, mother, brother, sister, and best friend) physical activity engagement and encouragement on adolescents’ physical fitness. Adolescents were part of the HELENA study, a multi-centre study conducted in 10 cities from nine European countries in 2006–2008. Participants were 3288 adolescents (48% boys, 52% girls) aged 12.5–17.5 years with valid data on at least one of the three fitness variables studied: muscular strength (standing long jump), speed/agility (4×10 m shuttle run), and cardiorespiratory fitness (20 m shuttle run). The adolescents reported their relatives’ physical activity engagement and encouragement. Analysis of covariance showed that relatives’ physical activity engagement (father, mother, brother, and best friend) was positively related to cardiorespiratory fitness (P < 0.05); and mother's and sisters’ physical activity engagement were positively associated with higher muscular strength in adolescents (P < 0.05). Furthermore, father's physical activity encouragement was positively linked to physical fitness (all fitness components) in adolescents (P < 0.05). Interventions aimed at improving physical fitness in young people might be more successful when family members, particularly mothers and fathers, are encouraged to engage in physical activity and support adolescents’ physical activity. |
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| Keywords: | Health-related fitness social support adolescence physical activity lifestyle |
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