We investigated the impact of a sports activities program on metabolic syndrome (MetS) components and pre-MetS among adolescents. Blood samples, blood pressure, weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference, body fat percentage, frequency of food consumption, daily time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary behavior (SB) of 92 male adolescents aged 14–18 years (16.07 ± 0.93) were evaluated. From this initial sample, 36 participants (39.1%) were diagnosed with pre-MetS or MetS and were invited to participate in the intervention program. Twelve individuals diagnosed with pre-MetS or MetS agreed to participate in a recreational sports activities program lasting 14 weeks. The pre- and post-sport program comparison showed a reduction in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and an increase in HDL and MVPA time in the intervention group. Sports activities accounted for 42% of the MVPA daily recommendation, and at the end of the intervention period, only seven subjects maintained a positive diagnosis for pre-MetS or MetS. This study showed that recreational sports activities had a significant impact on the lipid profile.

This study examined the associations between age, adiposity, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and elevated blood pressure (BP) in 2901 Portuguese children and adolescents aged 2–18. BP, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), physical activity, and sedentary behavior were measured. Elevated BP was defined as a BP above the 90th percentile for age, sex, and height. Multivariable analyses assessed the prevalence ratios (PR) of elevated BP across age groups, BMI, WHtR, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Results showed that older age, especially among middle schoolers, was associated with a 1.8 times higher risk of elevated BP than preschoolers. Participants with a higher BMI (overweight/obese) and a WHtR ≥ 0.50 had a 1.49- and 1.4-times higher risk of elevated BP, respectively. Those who did not meet the recommended 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day showed a 1.63 times higher risk of elevated BP, whereas the association between sedentary behavior and BP was not significant after adjustment. These findings highlight age, higher BMI, central obesity, and insufficient physical activity as key factors associated with elevated BP, underscoring the need for early monitoring and intervention to prevent hypertension in this population.

Obesity has increased consistently over the past decades and has become a major public health concern due to its association with cardiometabolic comorbidities. In this context, regular physical activity, such as judo practice, may represent a promising strategy to mitigate the harmful effects of excess weight in the pediatric population. The aim of this study was to compare metabolic syndrome parameters in adolescents with overweight or obesity who practice judo and those who do not. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 34 adolescents aged 10 to 14 years, classified according to the percentile charts of the World Health Organization. The judo group consisted of 17 participants, matched by age and weight status with 17 non-practitioners. Data collection included anamnesis, anthropometric assessments, body composition, cardiovascular parameters, and blood biomarkers. The results showed no statistically significant differences between groups in anthropometric, cardiovascular, or blood parameters. However, a significant difference was observed in lean body mass, with higher values in the judo group (p = 0.030; Cohen’s d = 0.78). Although no differences were identified in metabolic syndrome markers, the findings suggest that judo practice may be associated with a more favorable body composition, which is an important aspect for health promotion among adolescents.

O objetivo do estudo foi verificar a associação entre coordenação motora, nível de atividade física (AF) e índice de massa corporal (IMC) em adolescentes e identificar possíveis diferenças no desempenho entre os sexos. A amostra foi constituída de 40 adolescentes, sendo 24 meninas e 16 meninos com média de idade de 11,65 ± 1,35 anos. Para avaliar a coordenação motora foi utilizado o teste Körperkoordinationstest Test Für Kinder (KTK). Para avaliação dos níveis de AF foi utilizado o International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Por fim, para identificação do IMC foram realizadas medidas de massa corporal e estatura e a classificação da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). Não foram encontradas associações entre as variáveis coordenação motora, nível de AF e IMC. Contudo, quando avaliados os testes isolados, observa-se que as meninas apresentaram desempenho inferior nos saltos monopedal e lateral, quando comparadas aos meninos. Conclui-se que o nível de AF e o IMC não se associaram à coordenação motora da amostra estudada.