Metabolically healthy versus unhealthy obesity in adolescents: is there a difference in cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, and active commuting?

Abstract

Aim: To identify the relationship between physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and active commuting in adolescents with metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 274 adolescents from schools in Southern Brazil. Body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, and lipid profile were evaluated. The 6-minute run/walk test was used to determine CRF. Physical activity, active commuting, and stretching/muscle strength were assessed using a self-report questionnaire. MHO was defined as the presence of overweight/obesity and up to one cardiometabolic risk factor, while MUO was defined as overweight/obesity plus at least two of these risk factors. Poisson regression analyses were used and adjusted for sex, age, skin color, living area and maturational stage. Results: The MUO profile was observed in 47.5% of the boys and 55.6% of the girls. Low levels of CRF (crude: PR=1.19, 95%CI= 1.07-1.32; adjusted: PR=1.17, 95%CI=1.05-1.31) and passive commuting (crude: PR=1.08, 95%CI=1.00-1.17; adjusted: PR=1.09, 95%CI=1.01-1.18) were associated with the MUO group. Conclusions: MUO adolescents presented lower levels of CRF and passive commuting than their MHO counterparts.