Fatness, health-related physical fitness, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in Chinese adolescents

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors across four cross-tabulated groups of health-related fitness based on three indicators of fitness and body fatness in Guangzhou youth. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Guangzhou, a large city in South China, September 2013. Participants: 588 males and 579 females aged 11-18 years. Main outcome measures: Participants were cross tabulated into four groups using Chinese standard age- and gender-specific waist circumference (WC) and health-related fitness (index of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and speed–agility) based on the gender-specific 25% values. Group differences in CVD risk factors (blood pressure [BP], triglyceride [TG], high-density lipoprotein [HDL], low-density lipoprotein [LDL], glucose, and a CVD risk score) were examined by ANCOVA, controlling for age. Results: In males, significant differences across groups were observed for blood pressure, TG, HDL, LDL, and TC: HDL (p<0.001). In females, significant group differences were observed for blood pressure, TG and HDL (p<0.05). In males, significant differences were also evident between those in the low-fat/low-fit group compared with the high-fat/high-fit group for blood pressure (p<0.05). A general trend of lower blood pressure for both genders in the low-fat group compared with the high-fat group was also shown (p<0.05). This same trend was also found for males in the blood lipid values (p<0.05) with the exception of TG. In general, males and females in the low-fit group, either low fat or high fat, had higher blood lipids and glucose compared to their high-fit counterparts although none of the differences reached statistical significance. There were linear relationships across groups for the CVD risk score for both males and females (p<0.05).And males in the high fat group showed higher scores compared with their counterparts within a fitness group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Clustering of CVD risk factors was inversely related to WC, and being fit may play a positive effect on reducing the hazards of abdominal obesity.