The purpose of the study was to evaluate the components of overweight, obesity, and body mass components among children aged 7 to 13 years against important sociodemographic factors. The analyses considered 315 school-age children from 7 to 13 years of age (164 boys and 151 girls). Each subject was assessed for body weight and height, body weight category, and main sociodemographic factors. Body mass components of body mass (body-fat percentage (BFP), muscle tissue, fat-free mass (FFM), and total body water (TBW) levels) were evaluated using the electrical bioimpedance method (BIA) and the TANITA 780 MC analyzer. A statistical analysis showed significant differences between the body composition of children living in cities in relation to children living in small towns and villages, and no significant differences were found between the results of children living in small towns and children living in villages. The presence of statistically significant differences between the values of the parameters of body composition of the studied children was demonstrated depending on the level of education of their fathers. The presence of statistically significant relationships between BMI of mothers and BFP of their children (p = 0.003), FFM (p = 0.003), muscle tissue (p = 0.001), and TBW (p = 0.001) has been demonstrated. The higher content of adipose tissue in children is strongly dependent on the higher BMI and body mass category of the mother, as well as the lower level of education of the father. The place of residence also significantly affects both the body fat content and the total body water content of body hydration. Living in the city is associated with better body composition.

Physical activity (PA) is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Due to civilization’s development, we can observe a global decline in physical activity which negatively affects the state of physical and mental health. The physical activity of children and adolescents is a counterpart to their physical fitness. There is also more frequent spending of free time in a passive way rather than actively. The aim of the study was to determine whether there are differences in the physical fitness of young people who rest passively in relation to those who rest actively. In addition, it was checked whether factors, such as age, weight, body height and BMI differentiate the level of fitness in adolescents. Study group: 25 boys and 25 girls declaring active leisure activities. Control group: 25 boys and 25 girls declaring passive leisure activities. Age of the respondents ranged from 11 to 15 years (Me = 13; SD = 1.23). The research used: the author’s questionnaire and the Index of Physical Fitness of K. Zuchora. The results were statistically developed. The youth who spend their free time actively were characterised by a higher level of physical fitness than their peers who choose passive recreation. The students with a higher BMI obtained worse results than the children with a lower body mass index. In both groups, slightly better results were obtained by girls. A significant relationship between age and results has been observed in the control group—the results increased with increasing age. The level of physical fitness is higher in active forms of recreation than in passive rest. Physical fitness tends to increase with age but decreases with increasing BMI. Girls are characterised by a higher level of physical fitness than boys.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of the type of birth and preterm birth on the risk of overweight and obesity in the children studied. The study involved 749 children of pre-school and school age, between 4 and 15 years of age. Information about the type of delivery and the potential preterm birth came from the child’s health book and the mother’s pregnancy card. The authors assessed the body height and body weight of each child. The analysis showed that on average every six children were born before due date (before the end of 37 weeks of gestation) and slightly more than 40% of the children were born by cesarean section (CS). A statistical analysis was performed, including descriptive statistics and Spearman’s correlation, and to evaluate the differences in the analyzed groups, nonparametric tests and chi-square independence tests were used: the Mann-Whitney test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test due to the lack of a normalized distribution. The incidence of overweight and obesity was higher in 7–11-year-old boys born with CS vs. vaginal birth (VD) (p = 0.026). There were no statistically significant differences between BMI centile value and preterm birth. Cesarean section birth significantly increases the percentage of boys with overweight and obesity in early school age and may be associated with higher percentile values of children with BMI in this age group.

Background: Childhood obesity and cardiometabolic disturbances are growing global health concerns. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of excess body weight, body fat, and selected cardiometabolic risk factors in school-aged children and adolescents, focusing on sex- and age-related differences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 318 Polish participants aged 6–17 years, including 169 children (6–12 years) and 149 adolescents (13–17 years). Anthropometric, blood pressure (BP), and fasting blood lipid and glucose measurements were collected and analyzed by age group (children 6–12 years; adolescents 13–17 years) and sex. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 18.5% (BMI-based) and 26.1% (body fat-based). Abdominal obesity and stage I–II hypertension were observed in 24.5% and 23.6% of participants, respectively. Children had higher rates of excess body fat, abdominal obesity, elevated BP, and lipid abnormalities than adolescents. Among adolescents, girls more frequently presented with borderline/high total cholesterol and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL cholesterol) and borderline/low High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL cholesterol), while boys more often had elevated BP. In girls, elevated triglycerides (TGs) were independently associated with abdominal obesity (odds ratio (OR) = 2.36, p = 0.015) and hypertension (OR = 2.47, p = 0.023); no such associations were observed in boys. Conclusions: Cardiometabolic risk factors may appear early in life and differ by age and sex. Routine screening and early interventions, particularly targeting lipid abnormalities in girls, are essential to prevent long-term health consequences.

Background: Body weight is an important aspect in the development of components of physical fitness that can affect athletic performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in body balance of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) athletes according to body mass classification: underweight/normal weight (UW/NW); overweight/obese (OW/OB). Material and Methods: The study was conducted among 69 BJJ athletes (age 23.26 ± 3.53) and 93 non-practicing adults (age 21.73 ± 2.32). This study was based on a quantitative assessment of body balance on the Zebris PDM platform during two tests, i.e., with eyes open and closed. Results: The total path of the center of pressure (COP TTL) was significantly higher in participants with UW/NW compared to those with OW/OB, both in participants from the study group and control group (p < 0.001). COP TTL was significantly lower in UW/NW BJJ athletes than in participants in the control group with the same BMI category (987.4 mm vs. 1238.5 mm and 1080.59 mm vs. 1280.70 mm, respectively) (p < 0.001). Conclusions. BJJ training is associated with a better balance in terms of COP TTL in the case of people with normal or underweight. The presence of excess body weight has a positive effect on lower COP TTL values in both practicing and non-practicing people.

The Influence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes: A Retrospective Study in Rzeszów, Poland - Article abstract #943644