/Objectives: A weekly combination of a high volume of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) with a low volume of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) provides important improvements in body composition and physical capacities in individuals with obesity. However, previous studies did not determine the weekly proportions of HIIT and MICT a priori. This study aimed to investigate changes in body composition, physical capacities and the fat oxidation rate in obese male adults by comparing a combination of MICT and HIIT, called combined training (COMB), with HIIT for a 12-week period. Thirty-four obese male adults (mean age: 39.4 ± 7.0 y; mean body mass index [BMI] 34.0 ± 4.2 kg m^-2) participated in this study (n = 18 for COMB, n = 16 HIIT), attending ∼ 36 training sessions. The COMB group performed 3 repetitions of 2 min at 95% of peak oxygen uptake (V'O₂ peak) (e.g., HIIT ≤20%), followed by 30 min at 60% of VO₂ peak (e.g., MICT ≥80%). The HIIT group performed 5-7 repetitions of 2 min at 95% of VO₂ peak. At baseline (PRE) and at the end of the training period (POST), body composition, VO₂ peak, and the fat oxidation rate were measured. The two training programs were equivalent in caloric expenditure. At POST, body mass (BM) and fat mass (FM) decreased by a mean of 3.09 ± 3.21 kg and 3.90 ± 2.40 kg, respectively (P < 0.05), in both groups and V'O₂ peak increased in both groups by a mean of 0.47 ± 0.34 L min^-1 (P < 0.05). The maximal fat oxidation rate increased similarly in both groups from 0.32 ± 0.05 to 0.36 ± 0.06 g min^-1 (P < 0.05). COMB training represents a viable alternative to HIIT to improve anthropometric characteristics, physical capacities and fat oxidation in obese male adults.

Research from different sources supports a link between nutrition and neurodevelopment, but evidence is still sparse regarding the relationship between a posteriori dietary patterns (DPs) and cognitive performance in school-aged children. Within the Northern Adriatic Cohort II, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy, 379 7-year-old children were cross-sectionally evaluated. Dietary patterns were identified through a principal component factor analysis based on 37 nutrients from children’s 3-day dietary records. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale of Children (WISC-IV) test provided measures of cognitive performance, including the full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) and single index scores. Each DP was related to FSIQ or single index scores through multiple robust linear regression models. We identified five DPs named “Dairy Products”, “Plant-based Foods”, “Fats”, “Meat and Potatoes”, and “Seafood” (63% of variance explained). After adjustment, no significant relationship was observed with the FSIQ score; positive associations were found between the “Seafood” DP and Verbal Comprehension Index or Perceptual Reasoning Index. The “Meat and Potatoes” and “Dairy Products” DPs were inversely associated with the Verbal Comprehension Index and Processing Speed Index scores, respectively. In the absence of a relation with the overall FSIQ score, single DPs might influence specific cognitive functions, including verbal and reasoning abilities, as targeted by single indexes, in the expected direction.

Few Italian and European studies have assessed adherence to dietary recommendations in primary school children using dietary records. No Italian studies have provided an index-based nutritional adequacy assessment. We provided a comprehensive overview of dietary intake in 381 7-year-old children from NAC-II cohort study, Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy). Energy, macro-, and micronutrient intakes were derived from 3-day dietary records. Standard (median and percentage) and index-based (Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR) and Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR)) approaches were used to evaluate adequacy to Italian dietary reference values at nutrient- and overall-diet-level. Percentage contribution of macronutrients to energy intake (%En) was unbalanced towards total fats and protein. In 25% of children, total fats intake exceeded the reference intake upper limit. In ~63% of children, protein intake was at least doubled in their child-specific population reference intake. Median intakes of sodium (1.7 g/day), saturated fatty acids (12.2 %En), and soluble carbohydrates (19.4 %En) exceeded the suggested dietary target in most (65–84%) children. Inadequacy was also observed for micronutrients, with median NARs ranging from 0.11 (vitamin D) to 0.90 (zinc). The median MAR was 0.75 (0.69–0.79), with 1 indicating optimal overall dietary intake. In conclusion, the enrolled children showed suboptimal intakes of several macro- and micronutrients, in line with Italian and European studies on primary school children. Based on the current findings, public health interventions may be targeted to specific nutrients or subpopulations.

(1) Background: Individuals with obesity tend to stop exercising after the completion of a structured training program. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess adherence and body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity levels, and physical and mental health after a 12-month exercise program and an 18-month follow-up period in a group of male adults with obesity. (2) Methods: Thirty-four adults with obesity were evaluated before (T0) and after (T3) a 3-month combined training (COMB). After that, they followed a maintenance program with low-intensity aerobic activity for three months. Then, they were recalled for a 6-month training program including thresholds (THR) training until the end of the study (T12). Finally, they participated in a 18-months follow-up period that included suggestions for healthy lifestyles, which ended with assessments (T30). Thus, the assessments were carried out at the beginning and end of the first training protocol (T0 and T3), at the beginning and end of the second training protocol (T6 and T12) and 18 months after the end of the training program (T30). At all time points, body composition (i.e., BMI, fat mass [FM] and fat-free mass [FFM]), physical capacities (i.e., V̇O₂max), and physical habits (i.e., International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Short-Form 12 (SF-12, for physical, P, and mental, M, indices) were measured. (3) Results: Fifteen out of thirty-four participants (42.8%) (age 42.8 ± 8.1 y) completed this study. At T30, participants increased their V̇O₂max (3.07 ± 0.46 vs. 3.67 ± 0.60 L·min⁻¹, p < 0.001), IPAQ TOT score (396 (2888) vs. 1356 (9144), p = 0.006), and SF12_MI score (41.1 ± 8.9 pt vs. 48.6 ± 11.0 pt) compared to T0. Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that decrease in BMI was largely associated with the increase in the SF 12_PI questionnaire (0.032). Similarly, the decrease in %FM and the increase in V̇O₂max were related with the increase in IPAQ tot (p < 0.001) and SF 12_MI (p < 0.001) scores. (4) Conclusions: 42.8% (15 out of 34) of the initial participants completed the follow-up test at T30 and maintained higher V̇O₂max values than at T0. Conversely, their physical characteristics returned to baseline. The improvement in V̇O₂max, compared to T0, correlated with maintaining high activity levels and with improved physical and mental well-being. In summary, it is recommended that people with obesity follow a structured physical activity program, as this leads to an improvement in physical capacities and physical and mental well-being. A personalized and monitored approach can lead to greater adherence to treatment and more effective long-term outcomes.