The effects of the aerobic endurance running program on the morphological characteristics of adolescent girls with different nutritional SUMMARY: This study aimed to explore the effects of a single moderate-intensity aerobic endurance running program on the morphological characteristics of normal-weighted and overweighted female adolescents and whether effects differ between individuals of different nutritional statuses. A total of 47 adolescent girls participated in this randomized controlled trial. Before and after 12 weeks of intervention, measurements were obtained for body height, body mass, BMI, triceps, subscapular, abdominal, thigh, and calf skinfolds, and chest, abdominal, thigh, and calf circumference. The total duration of the program was 12 weeks, with a frequency of 2 hours/week (24 sessions). The individual session lasted 60 minutes, and the intensity ranged from 60 % HRmax to 80 %. The findings from the present study suggest that the 12-week aerobic endurance running program induced changes in morphological characteristics of female adolescents. The significant reductions in body mass and BMI were small for normal-weight adolescents (-2,64 % and -3,48 %) and moderate for overweight adolescents (-4,14 % and -4,36 %) following the experimental program. The magnitude of reductions in the skinfold thickness was small for both groups (triceps, subscapular, abdominal, and calf) and moderate for thigh skinfold and a sum of skinfolds in the overweight group. The reductions in the magnitude of all circular measures were small for both groups. It ranged from -1.59 % to -2.59 % for normal-weight and from -2.54 % to -3.92 % for overweight adolescents, respectively. Additionally, the effects of the applied program seem more favorable to overweight than normal-weight adolescents. This study's current findings indicate that the 12-week aerobic endurance running program is effective due to improvements in morphological characteristics, body mass, and BMI of female adolescents. Additionally, this study's findings show that applied aerobic endurance running program proved more effective for overweight adolescents.

The process of aging leads to changes in functional abilities, fitness levels, level of physical activity, and body mass index (BMI), all of which causes changes in the quality of life. The current study aims to determine the association between the level of physical activity (PA) and BMI, and quality of life (QoL) among elderly women. The total sample numbered 156 women, with an average age of 67.7 ± 5.6 years. To determine the level of physical activity, the self-reported International Physical Activity Questionnaire Long Form (IPAQ-LF), was used. To calculate the values of the BMI, the standard procedure recommended by the World Health Organization was used. Quality of life was evaluated using the short form of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire designed by the World Health Organization. All the data were processed using the statistical package for data analysis SPSS 20.0. Pearson’s correlation analysis shows statistically significant relations at the level of p < 0.01 between PA and Physical health in Housework = 0.36, Leisure time PA = 0.27, Walking = 0.24, Moderate PA 0.43, Total PA = 0.43, while the correlations between the variables at the significance level of p < 0.05 were determined in PA in transportation = 0.19 and High-intensity PA = 0.16. Multiple linear regression analysis of different levels of PA as independent variables on individual domains of QoL shows that there is an association of PA and Physical health (Sig = 0.000), more precisely, Total PA is statistically the most closely related to Physical health (Sig = 0.000), and then follows PA at work and Social relations (Sig = 0.036). Similar results were obtained when BMI is added to model A. In contrast to model A, model B shows a statistically significant association between PA and BMI with the environmental domain of QoL (Sig = 0.001). The results of the current study indicate that high- and moderate-intensity physical activity both have benefits for physical health, whereas moderate PA showed higher significance levels. Results also show that elderly women with higher BMI values achieve better results in the environmental domain of QoL.

Abstract Background: The relationship between different surrogates of insulin resistance and left ventricular geometry in obese children is still unclear. Objective: We sought to explore the relationship between commonly used measures of insulin sensitivity/resistance (homeostatic model assessment index, serum uric acid, and triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio) and left ventricular geometry in normotensive obese children. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 32 normotensive obese children were examined. Transthoracic echocardiography was used to measure left ventricular mass index and relative wall thickness. Homeostasis model assessment index, serum uric acid level, and a ratio of triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were used as markers of the insulin resistance. Simple and partial correlation analyses (to control for the effects of body mass index) were conducted to explore relationship between studied variables and left ventricular mass index or relative wall thickness as outcome variables. Results: We found positive correlations between homeostasis model assessment index and relative wall thickness (r = 0.47, p = 0.03) which remained significant after controlling for the effect of body mass index, z-score (r = 0.48, p = 0.03). The cutoff level of homeostasis model assessment index with the optimum sensitivity (Sn) and specificity (Sp) derived from the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for predicting concentric remodelling was ≥5.51 with Sn = 83.33 and Sp = 68.75. Conclusion: There is a positive relationship between homeostasis model assessment index and relative wall thickness of obese normotensive children which may help to distinguish at risk obese normotensive children for the development of concentric left ventricular remodelling.

The aim of this paper is to present the latest scientific data related to a gluten-free diet, the justification of the introduction of a diet, the advantages and disadvantages of this dietary approach in the population of athletes. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity, previously defined as gluten sensitivity, is a relatively new clinical entity first defined in 2011. This disorder is characterized by intestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation) and extra intestinal symptoms such as headache, chronic fatigue, impaired concentration or “brain fog”, numbness and muscle or bone pain are frequently reported. Since most of the symptoms are subjective without accompanying clinical signs, and since no specific biomarker for diagnostics exists in clinical practice, there is always a dilemma whether this is really a health problem. A gluten-free diet has become popular among athletes due to the opinion that it has ergogenic effects. It should also be borne in mind that the introduction of a gluten-free diet has its drawbacks. Several studies suggest that a gluten-free diet is deficient in whole grains, dietary fiber, micronutrients and minerals. The data collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey study indicate the existence of higher concentrations of heavy metals in urine and blood samples taken from people following a gluten-free diet as a result of narrowed food choices. These data remind us to keep in mind the justification of the introduction of a gluten-free diet and the potential damage to health when observed adherence to this pattern of nutrition in the long run.

The aim of this research is to determine the effects of a ten-week modern and recreational dance exercise program and trunk and leg muscle strengthening exercises on the coordination and explosive power of student-age female dancers. The total number of participants was 54, of which 27 made up the experimental group who participated in an experimental exercise program and 27 the control group. The experimental group performed Hip Hop and Dancehall dances and trunk and leg muscle strengthening exercises 3 times a week for 90 min each. The control group had no additional forms of exercise other than regular daily activities. The coordination of the participants was evaluated on the basis of six tests (Side Steps, 20 Steps forward Twirling a Baton, Skipping the Horizontal Jump Rope, Turning in 6 squares, Hand-Foot Drumming and Agility test with a Baton) and two tests for determining explosive power parameters (the squat jump and countermovement jump). Results showed statistical significance between the groups in 5 variables of coordination at the multivariate and univariate level (p<.05, p<.01), and in both variables of explosive power at the univariate level (p<.05). A large and intermediate effect size of the experimental program was determined for 5 variables of coordination, and intermediate effect size for both variables of explosive power. The results of this study showed that a ten-week exercise program for recreational and modern dance and exercises for strengthening the muscles of the torso and legs have a positive effect on the changes in the parameters of coordination and explosive power in student-age female dancers.

The aim of this research was to determine the connection between the level of physical activity and body composition among school-age children. The sample of participants included 479 students, 250 boys and 229 girls, school-age children, with an average age of 12,5±1,08. Their level of physical activity was evaluated using the FELS PAQ questionnaire, while their body composition was evaluated using the BIA method. To determine a connection between the group of predictor variables and the criterion variables, a canonical correlation analysis was used. The obtained results indicated that there is a positive correlation between the level of physical activity and the parameters of body composition, both for the sample of school-age boys (p= .002), and the sample of girls (p= .048). It could be concluded that the participants who were physically more active scored lower values for Body Fat and BMI, that is, higher values for Muscle Mass and Lean Body Mass.

This research was conducted with the purpose of determining to what extent and how the dance program affects  the pre-school children coordination. The sample comprised 65 children of pre-school age (the control group consisted of 31 children, experimental of 34 children), aged 6 years ± 6 months. The experimental group performed dance activities over a period of 8 weeks (2X35 minutes each week). The control group performed regular activities in the kindergarten. The level of coordination in children was determined applying BOT-2 test battery (the Bruininks-Oseretsky test of Motor Proficiency). By analyzing the obtained research results, it was found a statistically significant difference between the dance and the control group in three variables: Jumping Jacks (0.000), Jumping in place-same sides synchronized (0.012) and Tapping feet and fingers- opposite sides synchronized (0.011), respectively. Statistically significant differences between the groups indicate the positive effect of the applied dance program on the development of motor coordination in pre-school children using an experimental dance program for twelve weeks. Dance program influences the coordination of the pre-school age children. The results showed that children participating in the dance program achieved better results in investigated bilateral coordination in three variables, thus recommending its application in the regular preschool children curriculum.

Recreational football has been shown to be an effective health-promoting activity, but it is still unclear how changes in game formats affect external and internal load. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the effect of area per player in recreational small-sided football games. Ten recreational active male football participants (mean±standard deviation, age: 20.1±1.1 years; height: 182.2±7.4 cm; body mass: 75.9±9.8 kg) completed two sessions comprising 2x20 min of 5v5 football with 80 and 60 m2 per player, during which heart rate (HR) and movement pattern were measured. In 80 m2, mean HR (167±9 vs. 160±10 b.p.m., P<0.001, ES=0.70) and peak HR (192±8 vs. 188±9 b.p.m., P=0.041, ES=0.50) were significantly higher than in 60 m2. Percentage playing time with HR >90%HRpeak was higher in 80 m2 than 60 m2 (45±14 vs. 29±16%, P=0.004, ES=1.07). Moreover, a higher number of sprints (8.0±4.8 vs. 3.0±1.3, P=0.014, ES=1.41) and a greater distance in the highest speed zones (>13, >16 and >20 km·h1) were covered in 80 m2 than 60 m2. Peak running speed was also higher in 80 m2 (24.3±1.7 vs. 22.3±1.4 km·h-1, P=0.011, ES=1.27), whereas no statistically significant differences were found in total distance covered, player load, or the acceleration-deceleration profiles. In conclusion, the internal and external loading was higher for recreationally active male football players when playing on a pitch with 80 m2 area per player compared to 60 m2.

The aim of the paper was to analyze tourist participation in animation programs during daily recreational activities within package tours which included apartment accommodation in Greece, i.e. whether there are differences between male and female participation rate in certain activities. Indirectly, based on the obtained results, it is necessary to establish whether animation programs should be conducted jointly and/or they should be planned and conducted separately for men and women. Another aim was to determine whether any differences occurred in animation programs during multiannual monitoring.

The research was carried out on a sample consisting of the members of the Special Brigade of the Serbian Armed Forces, members of the 63rd Parachute Battalion. A total of 100 participants took part in the study, of an average age of  30±0,5 yrs. The subject matter of this paper are their body composition and specific fitness abilities. The aim of the paper was to determine the correlation between body composition and specific fitness abilities, as well as to determine the cross-correlation between the parameters of body composition and specific fitness abilities. A canonical correlation analysis was used to determine the connection between the set of predictor variables and the criterion variable. Based on the obtained results it could be concluded that there is a significant correlation (p= .010) between body composition and fitness abilities. It can be concluded that the excess of fat tissue (BF%, BFkg, index visceral BF) and BMI have a negative effect on fitness, while a greater amount of muscle mass (MM% and MMkg) has a positive influence on fitness. The results indicate that participants who do not have as many layers of fat have better values for repetitive power of the abdominal muscles, and that the percentage of muscle mass has a positive effect on the repetitive power of the pectoral muscles, muscles of the arms and abdomen.

The aim of this research was to determine the relations of fitness parameters and morphological characteristics of seven-year-old obese children. The sample of participants consisted of 103 obese children (63 girls and 40 boys), first grade students (mean age 7.04 years) of elementary schools in Nis. The following fitness parameters were measured: HR in load, VO2max (ml), HR in peace, bend forward - bend backward - throw test, hand taping, 20m dash with a standing start, Abalakov test and forward bend on the bench test. Morphological characteristics were determined by measuring 13 parameters of longitudinal and transversal dimensions of skeleton, volume and body mass, as well as subcutaneous fat tissue. Canonical correlation analysis was used to determine the relations between the set of variables representing fitness parameters and the set of variables of morphological characteristics. Based on the coefficients of canonical correlation analysis, it can be concluded that the spaces of morphological characteristics and fitness parameters are interconnected with two pairs of statistically significant canonical factors (p˂.05 and p˂.01). The general analysis of the relationships between the first pair of canonical factors suggests that subjects with higher circular dimensionalities of the body, accentuated adiposity and body mass tend to have poorer results in motoring tasks requiring body flexibility, explosive leg strength and running speed, and also have poorer results in the parameters of cardiorespiratory fitness. It can be concluded that obesity in young school age has negative implications on the fitness parameters in children, and therefore on their overall growth and development.