Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if physical activity,
aerobic fitness and isometric strength during adolescence were predictors of
cardiovascular risk factor levels in young adulthood. The following
measurements were carried out: maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2 max),
maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) in four muscle groups, physical activity
(questionnaire), blood pressure (BP), total cholesterol, high density
lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, anthropometric variables and
body fat % (sum of four skinfolds). The data were collected from the
Danish Youth and Sports study, an observational longitudinal study in which two
measurements were carried out over an eight-year period. The findings in this
study indicated that the relationships between the absolute levels of physical
fitness and activity in adolescence and the subsequent level of CVD risk
factors are weak. However, the changes in physical fitness and physical
activity were related to the absolute levels of CVD risk factors in young
adulthood, especially in men. Weak relationships were found between the changes
in physical fitness/activity and changes in CVD risk factor levels in both
sexes. In conclusion, many subjects changed their levels of physical activity
and physical fitness between adolescence and young adulthood and the changes,
especially in aerobic fitness, seemed to be the best predictor of CVD risk
factor levels in young adulthood.
Key words
Cardiovascular risk factors - physical activity - aerobic fitness - isometric strength - adolescence - young adulthood
References
Hhasselstrom@ifi.ku.dk
