Background During aging, loss of muscle strength (dynapenia) combined with unhealthy lifestyles and sedentarism can lead to functional limitations and dependency; currently there is still limited evidence about multicomponent training as a treatment for dynapenia and dependence in ambulatory older women. Objective To evaluate the effect of a multicomponent physical exercise program (VIVIFRAIL) on physical functionality in elderly ambulatory women with dynapenia. Design, Setting and Participants A non-randomized clinical trial was realized in 61 ambulatory older women (65–80 years old) with dynapenia that belonged from two Integral Gerontological Centers (IGC) of Hidalgo, Mexico, from June to December 2019. Intervention The control group (CG) received the physical daily training applied in the IGC (yoga, cardio-dance or tai chi) and the intervention group (IG) participated in a multicomponent program training (resistance, flexibility, balance and gait) called “VIVIFRAIL” for 12 weeks, minimum 3 weekly sessions of 45–60 minutes. Measures All participants were evaluated at baseline (0 weeks), intermediate (6 weeks) and final (12 weeks), evaluations included glucose, blood pressure (SBP and DBP), anthropometric test, body composition evaluation and functional performance test with Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), muscle strength and a falls risk short test. Results 52 older women completed the study, mean age was 71.9 ± 4.46. According to SPPB passport classification was 1 Type A, 1 Type B+, 9 Type C, 7 Type C+ and 9 Type D. After 12 weeks of intervention, statistical analysis showed that multicomponent exercise significantly improved strength (p=<0.001), gait speed (p<0.001), standing from a chair (p<0.001) and TUGT (p<0.001). About falls risk, intervention group went from 70% to 12.5% while control group went from 52.4% to 63.6% (p<0.05). Conclusion Older women who completed the 12 weeks multicomponent exercise program significantly improved their functionality in muscle strength, gait speed (3mt and 6mt), standing from a chair and TUGT tests. Also, it showed a significantly decrease in falls risk, therefore, this type of intervention can reduce the risk of frailty in the elderly.

Background: It has been suggested that obese children have lower cognitive function, demonstrate poorer physical performance and are more susceptible to social-emotional problems. Aims: To describe associations between human physical growth, cognitive development, physical fitness and social-emotional characteristics of obese and non-obese children and to verify the predictors of intellectual coefficient by socioeconomic status (SES). Subjects and methods: A sample of 107 non-obese (N-Ob) children [−1 z-score body mass index (BMI) ≤1 z-score] and 108 obese (Ob) children [2 z-score ≤BMI ≤5 z-score] from a larger cohort was evaluated. Intellectual coefficient (IQ), social-emotional wellbeing (SEW), 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and SES (mid-low, low and very low) were assessed. Results: Ob children were taller, heavier and present more height for age and BMI than N-Ob children (p < 0.001). A significant correlation between IQ and SEW (r = 0.14), 6MWT and BMI z-score (r = −0.18) and 6MWT and SEW (r = 0.15) was found. Multiple regression analysis revealed that BMI z-score had a negative impact on IQ in the mid-low SES sub-group and that SEW had a positive effect on IQ in the very-low SES sub-group. Conclusions: In Chilean pre-school children from low-income families cognitive ability varied according to SES.

A better understanding of the link between eating behavior and maternal feeding practices with childhood and maternal weight status is of great interest. To assess the association between childhood anthropometric measures with mothers' Body Mass Index (BMI) and their feeding practices toward preschool children in Chile. 1029 children (504 boys, 4.3 ± 0.3 years) and their mothers were selected from public nurseries located in low income neighborhoods in Santiago. Mothers' BMI, children's BMI and waist-to-height ratios were registered. Maternal feeding practices towards their children's nutritional habits were measured using an adapted version of the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ). We found a direct correlation (p < 0.001) between children's BMI z-score and their mothers' BMI, both in boys (Spearman rho = 0.26) and girls (rho = 0.30). A direct association was also found between children's BMI z-score with scores of the subscale "concern for child's weight" (Spearman rho = 0.26 in boys and rho = 0.37 in girls; p < 0.001) and "food restriction" (rho = 0.19 in boys and rho = 0.27 in girls; p < 0.001). A reverse significant association was found between children's BMI z-score with scores of "pressure to eat" (rho = -0.30 in boys and rho = -0.36 in girls; p < 0.001). Analyses of the combined categories of childhood obesity and/or maternal obesity showed an important influence of children's weight status on CFQ scores. Mothers' BMI and children's BMI z-scores are highly correlated. We found significant associations between mothers' behaviour subscales and children's BMI z-score. It is not possible to establish a causal link between mother's CFQ scores and children's nutritional status, given the cross-sectional nature of this study and the bidirectional influences that exist between mothers and their children.