Differences in nutritional status and cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents according to the level of vulnerability

Abstract

Introduction: In the last 40 years, Chile has presented social changes, which influence the level of vulnerability of children and adolescents, as measured by a vulnerability index (EVI). Objective: To analyze the differences by EVI in nutritional status and cardiorespiratory fitness, as well as, the relationship between these variables in 14-year-old students. Method: Adolescents (n= 186, 88 males and 98 females) were 14.08±0.72 years of age from 8 educational establishments were characterized according to the EVI (EVI-0 and EVI-89) of their educational establishment. Weight and height were measured to determine BMI and BMI z-score, waist circumference, waist height ratio and cardiorespiratory fitness was measured by the maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) relative to body weight (mlO2·kg-1·min-1) using the 20 m shuttle run test. Re-sults: Differences were observed by EVI in BMI z-score [EVI-0: 0.761 (0.352-1.19) EVI-89: 1.29 (0.341-2.45) (p<0.0001)] and cardiorespiratory capacity of adolescents [EVI-0: 46 (42.1-50.2) EVI-89: 43.7 (33.2-46.3) (p<0.0001)]. In addition, it was shown that obese adolescents had 5.34 greater probability of presenting lower VO2max values, in the same way, this model shows that, belonging to the group with greater vulnerability (IVE 89), exposed adolescents to 5.09 times the probability of presenting low VO2max values. Conclusions: Adolescents belonging to educational establishments with greater vulnerability due to EVI present a higher prevalence of overweight or obesity and lower cardiorespiratory fitness than those more economically favored.