Epidemiología y prevención
Bajo nivel de forma física en los adolescentes españoles. Importancia para la salud cardiovascular futura (Estudio AVENA)Low Level of Physical Fitness in Spanish Adolescents. Relevance for Future Cardiovascular Health (AVENA Study)

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Introducción y objetivos

En diversos estudios se ha mostrado la relación entre el nivel de forma física durante la infancia-adolescencia y el riesgo cardiovascular en la edad adulta. Dado que no se dispone de datos relativos al nivel de condición física de los adolescentes españoles, los objetivos de este estudio son: a) determinar el nivel de condición física de los adolescentes españoles y establecer valores de referencia que puedan ser utilizados en el medio sanitario y educativo como indicadores de salud cardiovascular, y b) conocer la proporción de adolescentes españoles que no alcanza valores de capacidad aeróbica indicativos de salud cardiovascular futura.

Sujetos y método

Se ha utilizado la batería EUROFIT modificada para evaluar la condición física de una muestra representativa de adolescentes españoles (n = 2.859; 1.357 varones y 1.502 mujeres) procedente del estudio AVENA (Alimentación y Valoración del Estado Nutricional de los Adolescentes).

Resultados

Se han obtenido los valores normativos de condición física de la población adolescente española. El rango del percentil 5 respecto a la capacidad aeróbica máxima (test de Course Navette) es de 2,0-3,3 y 1,4-1,9 paliers para varones y mujeres, respectivamente. Casi 1 de cada 5 adolescentes presenta riesgo cardiovascular futuro sobre la base de su capacidad aeróbica. Este subgrupo de adoles- centes mostró también una peor forma física que el resto de adolescentes en todas las pruebas físicas realizadas.

Conclusiones

Los resultados obtenidos en el presente estudio permiten evaluar e interpretar correctamente el nivel de forma física de cualquier adolescente. Los resultados obtenidos indican la necesidad de mejorar el nivel de condición física de los adolescentes españoles.

Introduction and objectives

Several studies have demonstrated that physical fitness in childhood and adolescence is related to cardiovascular risk in adulthood. Current data on the physical fitness of Spanish adolescents are not available. Therefore, the aims of this study were: a) to assess the physical fitness of Spanish adolescents and establish reference values for use in health and educational settings as indicators of cardiovascular health, and b) to determine the percentage of Spanish adolescents below the minimum level of aerobic fitness needed to guarantee future cardiovascular health.

Subjects and method

The modified EUROFIT battery of tests was used to assess physical fitness in a representative sample of Spanish adolescents (n=2859; 1357 boys and 1502 girls) taking part in the AVENA (Alimentación y Valoración del Estado Nutricional de los Adolescentes) study.

Results

Standard parameters for the physical conditionof Spanish adolescents are reported in this study. The 5th percentile for maximum aerobic capacity (Course Navette test) ranged from 2.0-3.3 palier in boys and from 1.4-1.9 palier in girls. The findings indicate that, on the basis of aerobic fitness, approximately 20% of Spanish adolescents have an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease. This subgroup also performed poorly in all other tests of physical fitness used.

Conclusions

The results reported in this study enable the level of physical fitness in adolescents to be interpreted as an indicator of future cardiovascular health. They also indicate that the physical fitness of Spanish adolescents must be improved to help protect against cardiovascular disease in adulthood.

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    Financiado por el Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo (FIS n.° 00/0015), Panrico S.A., fondos FEDER-FSE, Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (AP2003-2128) y Consejo Superior de Deportes (Ref: 05/UPB32/01). F.B.O. es investigador científico en formación becado por el Consejo Superior de Deportes (Ref: 09/UPB31/03 y Ref: 13/UPB20/04).

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    En el anexo se relacionan los investigadores particpantes en el estudio AVENA.

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