Relations of moderate and vigorous physical activity to fitness and fatness in adolescents. Volume and intensity of physical activity in a large population-based cohort of middle-aged and older Australians: prospective relationships with weight gain, and physical function. Walk2Bactive: A randomised controlled trial of a physical activity-focused behavioural intervention beyond pulmonary rehabilitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Impact of Moderate-Intensity and Vigorous-Intensity Physical Activity on Mortality Physical activity and skills intervention: SCORES cluster randomized controlled trial. A comprehensive physical activity promotion programme at elementary school: the effects on physical activity, physical fitness and psychosocial correlates of physical activity. Sustained effects of physical activity on bone health: Iowa Bone Development Study. Accelerometer-measured sedentary time and physical activity-A 15 year follow-up of mortality in a Swedish population-based cohort. Physical activity and depression in adolescents: cross-sectional findings from the ALSPAC cohort Cross-sectional and prospective associations between moderate to vigorous physical activity and sedentary time with adiposity in children Physical activity as a strategy for maintaining tobacco abstinence: a randomized trial. Physical activity growth curves relate to adiposity in adolescents. Effect of fitness and physical activity on bone mass in adolescents: the HELENA Study Correlates of cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness among Brazilian adolescents. Increased physical activity and reduced adiposity in overweight Hispanic adolescents. A Longitudinal Study of the Family Physical Activity Environment and Physical Activity among Youth Improvements in fundamental movement skill competency mediate the effect of the SCORES intervention on physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in children
BACKGROUND It is unclear how moderate and vigorous intensities of physical activity ( PA ) are associated with cardiovascular fitness ( CVF ) and percentage of body fat ( % BF ) in adolescents . OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that vigorous PA , to a greater degree than moderate PA , would be associated with better CVF and lower % BF . DESIGN This was a cross-sectional study of 421 black and white high school students ( x age : 16 y ) .  PA was measured with 5 d of accelerometry and expressed in min/d of moderate or vigorous PA .  CVF was measured with a multistage treadmill test and was expressed as the oxygen consumption at a heart rate of 170 bpm . % BF was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry . Multiple regressions were used to determine the degree to which variance in CVF and % BF was explained by PA , after control for age , sex , race , and the sex x race interaction . RESULTS A higher index for CVF was associated with higher amounts of moderate and vigorous PA ;  more variance was explained by vigorous than by moderate PA .  Lower % BF was associated with higher amounts of vigorous PA but not with the amount of moderate PA . CONCLUSION Black and white adolescents who engaged in relatively large amounts of free-living vigorous exercise were likely to be relatively fit and lean OBJECTIVES To examine prospect ively whether higher proportions of vigorous physical activity ( VPA ) , independent of total activity volume , are associated with better outcomes in weight maintenance and physical function . METHODS We used three-year longitudinal data ( 2006/07 - 2009/10 ) of adults 45 and older ( n=32,087 ; 59.5±9.3years ) from New South Wales , Australia . Logistic regression models examined odds of weight gain and functional decline by volume and intensity of physical activity . RESULTS On average , body weight increased by 0.66 kg ( SD=5.83 , p<0.001 ) ; a vali date d physical function score ( MOS-PF ) decreased by 4.79 ( SD=12.56 , p<0.001 ) . There was a 10 % reduction in the odds of weight gain for participants who reported 300min/week or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity ( MVPA ) compared to less than 150min of MVPA . The proportion of MVPA that was vigorous was not associated with weight change . With the physical functioning outcome , there were independent protective effects from volume and intensity of physical activity . Independent of total MVPA , each 1 % increase in the proportion of total activity that was vigorous was associated with a 0.3 % decrease in the odds of decline in physical function . CONCLUSION These prospect i ve findings indicate that VPA per se plays an important role in the prevention of functional decline The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a physical activity (PA)-focused behavioural intervention during and after  pulmonary rehabilitation ( PR ) on PA levels ( primary aim ) , health-related outcomes and self-efficacy ( secondary aims ) of patients with COPD . Thirty-two patients were r and omly assigned to an experimental group ( EG ) or control group ( CG ) . The EG received a PA-focused behavioural intervention during PR ( 3 months ) and follow-up support ( 3 months ) . The CG received PR ( 3 months ) . Daily PA was collected : number of steps ; time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA ( MVPA ) , total PA and sedentary activities ( SA ) . Secondary outcomes comprised exercise capacity , muscle strength , health-related quality of life ( HRQOL ) and self-efficacy . Measures were collected at baseline , 3 and 6 months . Compared with the CG , the EG improved the number of steps ( p = 0.006 ) and time spent in MVPA ( p = 0.007 ) , total PA ( p = 0.014 ) and SA ( p = 0.018 ) at 3 months . Differences were maintained after follow-up support ( 0.025 ≤ p ≤ 0.040 ) , except for SA ( p = 0.781 ) . Exercise capacity , muscle strength and HRQOL were increased at 3 and 6 months ( p ≤ 0.002 ) with no between-group differences ( 0.148 ≤ p ≤ 0.987 ) . No changes were observed in self-efficacy ( p = 0.899 ) . A PA-focused behavioural intervention during and after PR may improve patients ' PA levels . Further research is warranted to assess the sustainability of the findings Purpose Physical activity guidelines recommend at least 150 min of moderate-intensity physical activity ( MPA ) , 75 min of vigorous-intensity physical activity ( VPA ) , or combination of MPA and VPA . However , few epidemiological studies have examined whether the general population can derive equal health benefits from MPA or VPA . This study examined the associations of different activity intensities with mortality . Methods In this prospect i ve cohort study , a total of 83,454 community-dwelling Japanese who answered a question naire in 2000–2003 were followed for all-cause mortality through 2012 . Subjects were classified into four groups by physical activity guidelines and also by the proportion of VPA to total MVPA , that is , physically inactive , physically active without any VPA ( 0 % VPA ) , and active with some VPA ( 30 % or less ) or with more VPA ( more than 30 % ) . Hazard ratios of all-cause mortality were calculated with adjustment for potential confounders including physical activity volume . Results During 894,718 person-years of follow-up , 8891 deaths  were identified . Compared with physically inactive subjects , the adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause mortality were 0.75 ( 95 % confidence interval , 0.68–0.83 ) , 0.73 ( 0.65–0.82 ) , and 0.74 ( 0.62–0.89 ) among men , and 0.71 ( 0.62–0.81 ) , 0.75 ( 0.64–0.88 ) , and 0.74 ( 0.58–0.94 ) among women . For “ 0 % VPA , ” “ 30 % or less ” and “ more than 30 % , ” respectively . Conclusions Meeting the guidelines in either pattern of physical activity is important for lowering mortality risk . It may be suggested that people can receive comparable health benefit by MPA or VPA as long as they meet the guideline PURPOSE  Physical activity ( PA  ) declines dramatically during adolescence , and activity levels are consistently lower among children living in low-income communities . Competency in a range of fundamental movement skills ( FMS ) may serve as a protective factor against the decline in PA typically observed during adolescence . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a 12-month multicomponent PA and FMS intervention on children attending primary schools in low-income communities . METHODS The Supporting Children 's Outcomes using Rewards , Exercise , and Skills intervention was evaluated using a cluster r and omized controlled trial . The sample included 25 classes from eight primary schools located in low-income communities . Participants were 460 children ( 54.1 % girls ) age 8.5 ± 0.6 yr . Primary outcomes were objective ly measured PA ( ActiGraph GT3X and GT3X+ accelerometers ) , FMS competency ( Test of Gross Motor Development 2 , six locomotor and six object control skills ) , and cardiorespiratory fitness ( 20-m multistage fitness test ) assessed at baseline , midprogram ( 6-months ) , and at posttest ( 12 months ) . Linear mixed models , adjusted for sex , age , body mass index z-score , socioeconomic status , ethnicity , and school class as a r and om factor , were used to assess the effect of the intervention . RESULTS At midprogram , there were no significant intervention effects for any of the outcomes . At posttest ( study 's primary time point ) , there were intervention effects for daily moderate-to-vigorous PA ( MVPA ) ( adjusted mean difference , 12.7 min·d of MVPA ; 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) , 5.0 - 20.5 ) , overall FMS competency ( 4.9 units ; 95 % CI , -0.04 to 9.8 ) , and cardiorespiratory fitness ( 5.4 laps ; 95 % CI , 2.3 - 8.6 ) . CONCLUSIONS A school-based multicomponent PA and FMS intervention maintained daily MVPA , improved overall FMS competency , and increased cardiorespiratory fitness among children attending primary schools in low-income communities OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of a comprehensive physical activity ( PA ) promotion programme in elementary schools on children 's total PA levels , leisure-time PA , physical fitness and psychosocial correlates of PA . DESIGN A pre-test-post-test design over two school years . SETTING AND SUBJECTS Sixteen elementary schools ( 764 children , mean age : 11.2 + /- 0.7 years ) were r and omly assigned to the intervention condition ( n = 8) and the control condition ( n = 8) . The intervention included a health-related physical education programme , an extracurricular PA promotion programme and classroom-based PA education lessons . In the total sample , leisure-time PA , psychosocial correlates of PA and physical fitness were measured using a PA question naire and the Eurofit test battery . In a sub- sample , total PA levels were measured using an accelerometer . RESULTS According to accelerometer data , children 's moderate PA and moderate-to-vigorous PA ( MVPA ) levels decreased less in the intervention schools than in the control schools ( P < 0.01 ) . The average time spent on MVPA decreased by 9 min per day in the intervention schools compared with 33 min per day in the control schools . Children in the intervention schools reported significantly more moderate PA in leisure time than the controls ( P < 0.05 ) . No overall improvement of physical fitness and no effects on the psychosocial correlates of PA were found . CONCLUSIONS The comprehensive PA promotion programme was successful in preventing a decline in children 's  total activity levels . Furthermore , the intervention increased children 's PA engagement in leisure time . Therefore , implementation needs to be encouraged Studies of youth athletics and interventions have shown some maintenance of bone mineral content ( BMC ; g ) after cessation of training , but less is known about sustained effects of everyday physical activity ( PA ) . Using a prospect i ve cohort , this report examined potential effects of  childhood PA  on  adolescent BMC . Participants ( N=156 boys , 170 girls ) had exams at ages 5 , 13 , and 15 . Body size and maturity were determined using anthropometry . Moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA ( MVPA ) and vigorous-intensity PA ( Vigorous PA ) were measured using accelerometry .  BMC of the spine and hip was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry . Mixed regression models tested whether PA at age 5 affected BMC at ages 13 and 15 after adjustment for age ( year ) , height ( cm ) , weight ( kg ) , maturity ( pre-peak height velocity or post ) , and activity level ( min/day ) . Analysis was repeated to control for age 5 BMC . On average , boys participated in 59 , 52 , and 38 min of MVPA and 13 , 17 , and 11 min of Vigorous PA at ages 5 , 13 , and 15 , respectively . MVPA ( β=0.799 ) and Vigorous PA ( β=1.338 ) at age 5 predicted later spine BMC ( p<0.05 ) . MVPA ( β=0.480 ) at age 5 predicted hip BMC . Girls participated in 47 , 33 , and 26 min of MVPA and 10 , 9 and 7 min of Vigorous PA at ages 5 , 13 , and 15 , respectively . Neither MVPA nor Vigorous PA  predicted later spine BMC . MVPA ( β=0.302 ) at age 5 predicted hip BMC . After controlling for BMC at age 5 as well as the other covariates , the effect of MVPA ( β=0.695 ) and Vigorous PA ( β=1.079 ) at age 5 remained significant for boys at the spine . For girls , neither MVPA nor Vigorous PA at age 5 predicted spine or hip BMC . Children 's early PA  appears to have a modest effect on  adolescent BMC at the critical regions of spine and hip ; benefits may be greater for geometric changes , which future studies should include OBJECTIVES To investigate the associations of objective ly assessed sedentary time , light intensity physical activity ( PA ) , moderate to vigorous intensity PA ( MVPA ) , and total PA with all-cause mortality and mortality from cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) or cancer in a Swedish population -based cohort with 15 years follow-up time . DESIGN Longitudinal prospect i ve cohort study . METHODS Data from 851 persons ( 56 % women ) ≥35 years at baseline were included . Primary exposure variables were  time ( min/day ) spent sedentary , in light intensity PA and in MVPA , and total counts from an Actigraph 7164 accelerometer . Data on all-cause mortality and mortality from CVD or cancer were obtained from Swedish registers . Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios ( HR ) of mortality with 95 % confidence intervals ( CI ) . RESULTS Compared with the least sedentary participants , those in the most sedentary tertile had an increased risk of all-cause mortality , HR : 2.7 ( 1.4 , 5.3 ) , CVD mortality , HR : 5.5 ( 1.4 , 21.2 ) and cancer mortality , HR : 4.3 ( 1.2 , 16.0 ) . For all-cause mortality , those in the highest light intensity PA tertile had a HR 0.34 ( 0.17 , 0.67 ) compared with the lowest tertile . A similar pattern was found for CVD and cancer mortality . More time spent in MVPA was associated with the largest risk reduction for CVD mortality , with an almost 90 % lower risk in the tertile with the most time in MVPA . CONCLUSIONS This study confirms a strong inverse relationship between MVPA and mortality , and adds new insight for the underst and ing of the associations between sedentary time  and light intensity PA  and mortality Purpose Few studies have examined the association between physical activity ( PA ) , measured objective ly , and  adolescent depressive symptoms .  The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between objective measures of PA ( total PA and time spent in moderate and vigorous PA ( MVPA ) ) and adolescent depressive symptoms . Methods Data on 2,951 adolescents participating in ALSPAC were used .  Depressive symptoms were measured using the self-report Mood and Feelings Question naire ( MFQ )  ( short version ) . Measures of  PA  were based on accelerometry . The association between PA and MFQ scores was modelled using ordinal regression . Results Adolescents who were more physically active ( total PA or minutes of MVPA ) had a reduced odds of depressive symptoms [ ORadj  total PA  ( tertiles ) : medium 0.82 ( 95 % CI : 0.69 , 0.97 ) ; high 0.69 ( 95 % CI : 0.57 , 0.83 ) ] ; ORadj per 15 min MVPA  : 0.92 ( 95 % CI : 0.86 , 0.98 ) . In a multivariable model including both  total PA  and the percentage of time spent in MVPA , total PA  was associated with depressive symptoms ( ORadj  total PA  ( tertiles ) : medium 0.82 ( 95 % CI : 0.70 , 0.98 ) ; high 0.70 ( 95 % CI : 0.58 , 0.85 ) but the percentage of time spent in  MVPA  was not independently associated with depressive symptoms [ ORadj MVPA ( tertiles ) medium 1.05 ( 95 % CI : 0.88 , 1.24 ) , high 0.91 ( 95 % CI : 0.77 , 1.09 ) ] . Conclusions The total amount of PA undertaken was associated with  adolescent depressive symptoms , but the amount of time spent in MVPA , once total PA was accounted for , was not . If confirmed in longitudinal studies and r and omised controlled trials , this would have important implication s for public health messages Background : Physical activity ( PA ) and sedentary time ( SED ) have both been suggested as potential risk factors for adiposity in children . However , there is paucity of data examining the temporal associations between these variables . Objective : This study aim ed to analyze the cross-sectional and prospect i ve associations between PA , SED and body composition in children . Methods : A total of 510 children ( age at baseline 10.1±0.8 , age at follow-up 11.8±0.9 ) from six Portuguese schools from the Oeiras Municipality participated in this study .  PA and SED were measured by accelerometry and trunk fat mass ( TFM ) and body fat mass ( BFM )  were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry .  Fat mass index ( FMI ) was calculated as BFM divided by height squared . Several regression models adjusted for age , sex , maturity status , follow-up duration , baseline levels of the outcome variable and SED or moderate to vigorous PA ( MVPA ) were performed . Results : MVPA ( min per day ) was cross-sectionally inversely associated with adiposity indexes ( FMI , TFM and BFM ) . Adiposity indexes were inversely associated with time in MVPA . In prospect i ve analyses , MVPA was associated with a lower levels of FMI ( β=−0.37 , 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) : −0.49 to −0.26 , P<0.001 ) , TFM ( β=−0.20 , 95 % CI : −0.29 to −0.10 , P<0.001 ) and BFM ( β=−0.37 , 95 % CI : −0.49 to −0.26 , P<0.001 ) . When the model was adjusted for age , sex , maturity status and for baseline levels of the outcome variables MVPA remained a significant predictor of lower adiposity indexes ( FMI : β=−0.09 , 95 % CI : −0.16 to −0.01 , P<0.05 ; TFM : β=−0.08 , 95 % CI : −0.15 to −0.01 , P<0.05 ; BFM : β=−0.07 , 95 % CI : −0.15 to 0.00 , P<0.05 ) . Adiposity was not associated  with MVPA when modeled as the exposure in prospect i ve analyses . SED was not related with adiposity indexes , except for the relationship with FMI . Conclusions : In cross-sectional and prospect i ve analyses , MVPA is associated with lower adiposity independent of covariates and SED . Results suggest that promoting MVPA is important for preventing gain in adiposity in healthy children OBJECTIVES For smoking cessation , physical activity ( PA ) may help manage withdrawal symptoms , mood , stress , and weight ; yet studies of PA as an aid for smoking cessation have been mixed . This study examined : ( 1 ) the impact of an extended relapse prevention program on increasing moderate to vigorous PA ( MVPA ) in adults enrolled in a tobacco cessation treatment trial ; ( 2 ) whether changes in MVPA were associated with sustained abstinence from smoking ; and ( 3 ) mechanisms by which MVPA may support sustained abstinence from smoking . METHODS In a r and omized controlled trial conducted from 2003 - 2006 in San Francisco , California , 407 adult smokers received a 12 week group-based smoking cessation treatment with bupropion and nicotine patch with the quit date set at week 3 . At week 12 , participants were r and omized to no further treatment or to 40 weeks of bupropion or placebo with or without an 11-session relapse prevention intervention of which 2 sessions ( held at weeks 16 and 20 ) focused on PA . Participants receiving the PA intervention ( n=163 ) received a pedometer , counseling to increase steps 10 % biweekly towards a 10,000 steps/day goal , and personalized reports graphing progress with individualized goals . The International Physical Activity Question naire assessed weekly minutes of MVPA at baseline and weeks 12 and 24 . Sustained abstinence from tobacco at week 24 was vali date d with expired carbon monoxide . RESULTS In a repeated mixed model analysis , intervention participants significantly increased their MVPA relative to control participants , F(1,475)=3.95 , p=.047 . Pedometer step counts also increased significantly , t(23)=2.36 , p=.027 , though only 15 % of intervention participants provided 6 weeks of pedometer monitoring . Controlling for treatment condition , increased MVPA predicted sustained smoking abstinence at week 24 , odds ratio=1.84 ( 95 % CI : 1.07 , 3.05 ) . Among participants with sustained abstinence , increased MVPA was associated with increased vigor ( r=0.23 , p=.025 ) and decreased perceived difficulty with staying smoke-free ( r=-0.21 , p=.038 ) . CONCLUSION PA promotion as an adjunct to tobacco treatment increases MVPA levels ; changes in MVPA predict sustained abstinence , perhaps by improving mood and self-efficacy PURPOSE Findings from prospect i ve studies on associations between physical activity and adiposity among youth are inconsistent . Our aim was to describe physical activity trajectories during secondary school and examine the association with change in adiposity in youth . METHODS  Physical activity  was measured in 20 survey cycles from 1999 to 2005 ; anthropometrics were measured in survey cycles 1 , 12 , and 19 . Individual growth curves modeling moderate-to-vigorous physical activity ( MVPA ) and vigorous physical activity ( VPA ) were estimated . Estimates of initial level and rate of decline in MVPA and VPA bouts per week were included as potential predictors of body fat% and body mass index using age- and sex-specific linear regression . RESULTS Complete data were available for 840 and 760 adolescents aged 12 - 13 years at baseline , followed from survey cycles 1 - 12 and 12 - 19 , respectively . Among girls , yearly declines of one MVPA and one VPA bout per week during earlier adolescence were associated with increases of 0.19 ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 0.02 - 0.36 ) and 0.47 ( 95 % CI , 0.015 - 0.92 ) units of body fat% , respectively . In boys , a yearly decline of one MVPA bout per week was associated with an increase of 0.38 ( 95 % CI , 0.05 - 0.70 ) units of body fat% during later adolescence . CONCLUSIONS Obesity prevention programs should include strategies to prevent declines in physical activity Our aim is to analyse the effect on bone mass of : ( 1 ) physical fitness performance on a specific group of physical activity ( PA ) and , ( 2 ) PA on a specific physical fitness performance group . Bone mineral content ( BMC ) by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry ( DXA ) and PA by accelerometers was assessed in 373 Spanish adolescents ( 182 males ) . Adolescents were classified as : active and non-active ( ≥60 or < 60 min day−1 of moderate-vigorous PA ) . Fitness was assessed through speed/agility , strength and cardiorespiratory tests . Adolescents were classified by tertiles ( T1 , T2 and T3 ) . ANCOVA was used for the analysis with sex , height , lean mass , calcium intake and pubertal status as covariates . Adolescents with lower strength , speed/agility and cardiorespiratory fitness ( CRF ) showed lower BMC in the whole body and extremities compared with adolescents with better results in these tests , mainly those non-active adolescents . Non-active adolescents with high fitness levels showed higher BMC ( whole body and upper limbs ) than active ones . The conclusions included : ( 1 ) within the non-active group , lower levels of fitness were associated with lower BMC ; this might be through PA or trough an effect of PA on muscle mass . ( 2 ) Non-active adolescents with high level of fitness in most fitness tests showed higher BMC than their active peers , in spite of their lower PA levels . These unexpected results could be influenced by several factors such as genetics , nutrition , type of exercise or sport , hormones and skeletal age OBJECTIVE To analyze socioeconomic indicators , physical activity ( PA ) opportunities , and behavioral correlates of cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness among Brazilian boys and girls . METHODS A sample of 1555 adolescents was r and omly selected . Age- and sex-specific st and ard scores were calculated for each fitness component . RESULTS Among boys , head of household 's schooling , involvement in organized PA , meeting the PA recommendations , and computer/games use were associated with cardiorespiratory fitness . Involvement in organized PA and active time in Physical Education ( PE ) classes were predictors of muscular fitness . Among girls , active time in PE classes and TV watching were predictors of cardiorespiratory fitness . Meeting the PA recommendations was associated with muscular fitness . CONCLUSION PA variables and sedentary behaviors should be independently considered for physical fitness promotion in youth PURPOSE The objectives of this study were to examine 1 ) whether changes in total physical activity  ( PA ; counts per minute , cpm ) and time spent in moderate to vigorous PA ( MVPA ) are associated with changes in adiposity and 2 ) whether energy intake influences the relationship between changes in PA and changes in adiposity in overweight Hispanic adolescents . METHODS Analysis included 38 overweight ( body mass index , > 85th percentile ) Hispanic adolescents with complete pretest and posttest data on relevant variables after participating in a 16-wk intervention . The intervention treatment did not influence PA , so the sample was combined and the r and omization group was adjusted for in the analysis . Body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry , 7-d PA by accelerometry , and dietary intake by 3-d diet records were assessed before and after intervention . RESULTS Within individuals , the mean increase of PA ( n = 19 ) and mean decrease of PA ( n = 19 ) was approximately 105 cpm . A 100-cpm increase in total PA was associated with a decrease of 1.3 kg of fat mass and 0.8 % body fat after adjusting for pretest adiposity , PA , age , sex , and treatment ( P < 0.05 ) . Controlling for energy intake modestly strengthened the relationships between total PA and fat mass and percent body fat . Changes in MVPA were not related to changes in adiposity after controlling for total PA ( P > 0.05 ) . CONCLUSIONS Increasing total PA  by 28 % ( 100 cpm ) was associated with a decrease of 1.4 kg of fat mass and 1 % body fat for 16 wk in overweight Hispanic adolescents independent of intervention group assignment . Increases in total PA , compared with MVPA , may be sufficient to improve body composition in overweight Hispanic adolescents Purpose . Although the family environment is a potentially important influence on children 's  physical activity ( PA )  , prospect i ve data investigating these associations are lacking . This study aim ed to examine the longitudinal relationship between the family environment and PA among youth . Design . A 5-year prospect i ve cohort study . Setting . Nineteen r and omly selected public schools in Melbourne , Australia . Subjects . Families of 5- to 6-year-old ( n = 190 ) and 10- to 12-year-old ( n = 350 ) children . Measures . In 2001 , parents reported their participation in PA , family-based PA , and support and reinforcement for their child 's PA . In 2001 , 2004 , and 2006 ,  moderate to vigorous intensity PA ( MVPA )  was assessed among youth using accelerometers .  Weekend and “ critical window ” ( after school until 6:00 P.M. ) MVPA were examined because we hypothesized that the family environment would most likely influence these behaviors . Analysis . Generalized estimating equations predicted average change in MVPA over 5 years from baseline family environment factors . Results . Maternal role modeling was positively associated with boys ' critical window and weekend ( younger boys ) MVPA .  Paternal reinforcement of PA  was positively associated with critical window and weekend MVPA among all boys , and paternal direct support was positively associated with weekend MVPA ( older boys ) . Among girls , maternal coparticipation in PA predicted critical window MVPA , and sibling coparticipation in PA was directly associated with weekend MVPA ( younger girls ) . Conclusions . Longitudinal relationships , although weak in magnitude , were observed between the family environment and MVPA among youth . Interventions promoting maternal role modeling , paternal reinforcement of and support for PA , and maternal and sibling coparticipation in PA with youth are warranted . ( Am J Health Promot 2011;25[3]:159–167 . Abstract Numerous studies have identified a positive association between fundamental movement skill ( FMS ) competency and physical activity in children ; however , the causal pathways have not been established . The aim of this study is to determine if changes in FMS competency mediated the effect of the Supporting Children ’s Outcomes using Rewards , Exercise and Skills ( SCORES ) intervention on physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in children . Eight primary schools ( 25 classes ) and 460 children ( aged 8.5 ± 0.6 , 54 % girls ) were r and omised to the SCORES intervention or control group for the 12-month study . The outcomes were accelerometer-determined moderate-to-vigorous physical activity ( MVPA ) and cardiorespiratory fitness . The hypothesised mediators were actual FMS competency and perceived sport competence . Mediation analyses were conducted using multilevel linear analysis in MPlus . From the original sample , 138 ( 30.0 % ) and 370 ( 80.4 % ) children provided useable physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness data at post-test assessment s. There were significant treatment effects for locomotor skills and overall FMSs . Changes in MVPA were associated with changes in object-control skills , overall FMSs and perceived competence . The overall FMSs had a significant mediating effect on MVPA ( AB = 2.09 , CI = 0.01–4.55 ) . Overall FMSs ( AB = 1.19 , CI = 0.002–2.79 ) and locomotor skills ( AB = 0.74 , CI = 0.01–1.69 ) had a significant mediating effect on cardiorespiratory fitness . The results of this study conclude that actual but not perceived movement skill competency mediated the effect of the SCORES intervention on physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness
VPA was more strongly associated with reduced body fat and central adiposity compared with MPA and /or MVPA .
Additionally , VPA was more strongly associated with increased CRF when compared with lower intensities .
Findings were inconclusive between all PA intensity levels and CM biomarkers , and several significant relationships observed for VPA were attenuated when controlling for CRF .
A potential VPA dose is identified as yielding favorable health benefits in adiposity and fitness .
While CM biomarkers were not consistently associated with PA intensity level , the literature suggests VPA may yield health benefits above those received from MPA for reduced adiposity and improved CRF .
Background .
Increasing evidence suggests that vigorous physical activity ( VPA ) in youth may yield greater health benefits than moderate ( MPA ) or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity ( MVPA ) .
The purpose of this review was to assess the relationship between PA intensity and body composition , cardiorespiratory fitness ( CRF ) , and cardiometabolic ( CM ) biomarkers in youth .