IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i17p10797-d902101.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Physical, Psychological, and Body Composition Differences between Active and Sedentary Adolescents According to the “Fat but Fit” Paradigm

Author

Listed:
  • Adrián Mateo-Orcajada

    (Faculty of Sport, Catholic University San Antonio of Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain)

  • Raquel Vaquero-Cristóbal

    (Faculty of Sport, Catholic University San Antonio of Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain
    Kinanthropometry International Chair, Catholic University San Antonio of Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain)

  • Francisco Esparza-Ros

    (Kinanthropometry International Chair, Catholic University San Antonio of Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain)

  • Lucía Abenza-Cano

    (Faculty of Sport, Catholic University San Antonio of Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain)

Abstract

The practice of physical activity during adolescence is essential for the proper development of the population. In recent decades, the relevance of physical activity has been increasing, due to the development of the “fat but fit” paradigm. This paradigm shows that adolescents with a high level of physical fitness are healthier than adolescents with poorer physical fitness, regardless of their weight, giving importance to sports practice over other aspects. However, few previous studies have analyzed the differences in physical and body composition between active and sedentary adolescents in this paradigm. For this reason, the objectives of the present study were to establish the differences in body composition, physical performance, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet between active and sedentary adolescents; and to analyze the differences between active and sedentary adolescents according to the “fat but fit” paradigm. The sample consisted of 791 adolescent whose body composition, level of physical activity, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and physical fitness were measured. It was found significant between active and sedentary adolescents in most of the anthropometric, AMD, and physical fitness variables, with a significant effect of the covariates gender, age, BMI, and biological maturation on the model. The binary logistic regression analysis performed shows that anthropometric variables, AMD, and VO2 max can be considered as primary outcomes to distinguish between active and sedentary groups of adolescents. Furthermore, the results showed that the active adolescents, regardless of their weight status, had lower fat mass and greater muscle mass, as well as a higher performance in the physical fitness tests, and greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet than the sedentary adolescents. To conclude, the practice of physical activity is a determinant for the improvement of body composition, physical performance, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet of the adolescent population, regardless of their gender, age, weight, or maturity status.

Suggested Citation

  • Adrián Mateo-Orcajada & Raquel Vaquero-Cristóbal & Francisco Esparza-Ros & Lucía Abenza-Cano, 2022. "Physical, Psychological, and Body Composition Differences between Active and Sedentary Adolescents According to the “Fat but Fit” Paradigm," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-24, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:10797-:d:902101
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/17/10797/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/17/10797/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Arkaitz Castañeda-Babarro & Ane Arbillaga-Etxarri & Borja Gutiérrez-Santamaría & Aitor Coca, 2020. "Physical Activity Change during COVID-19 Confinement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-10, September.
    2. Adrián Mateo-Orcajada & Lucía Abenza-Cano & Raquel Vaquero-Cristóbal & Sonia María Martínez-Castro & Alejandro Leiva-Arcas & Ana María Gallardo-Guerrero & Antonio Sánchez-Pato, 2021. "Influence of Gender Stereotypes, Type of Sport Watched and Close Environment on Adolescent Sport Practice According to Gender," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Korcz Agata & Makama Andries Monyeki, 2018. "Association Between Sport Participation, Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Social Correlates Among Adolescents: The PAHL Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Elvar S. Saevarsson & Vaka Rognvaldsdottir & Runa Stefansdottir & Erlingur Johannsson, 2021. "Organized Sport Participation, Physical Activity, Sleep and Screen Time in 16-Year-Old Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-10, March.
    5. Alan M. Nevill & Yassine Negra & Tony D. Myers & Michael J. Duncan & Helmi Chaabene & Urs Granacher, 2021. "Are Early or Late Maturers Likely to Be Fitter in the General Population?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-16, January.
    6. Roxana Paola Palacios-Cartagena & Jose A. Parraca & Maria Mendoza-Muñoz & Raquel Pastor-Cisneros & Laura Muñoz-Bermejo & Jose Carmelo Adsuar, 2022. "Level of Physical Activity and Its Relationship to Self-Perceived Physical Fitness in Peruvian Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-10, January.
    7. Mario Albaladejo-Saura & Raquel Vaquero-Cristóbal & Noelia González-Gálvez & Francisco Esparza-Ros, 2021. "Relationship between Biological Maturation, Physical Fitness, and Kinanthropometric Variables of Young Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-20, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Daniela Huber & Johanna Freidl & Christina Pichler & Michael Bischof & Martin Kiem & Renate Weisböck-Erdheim & Gabriella Squarra & Vincenzo De Nigris & Stefan Resnyak & Marcel Neberich & Susanna Bordi, 2023. "Long-Term Effects of Mountain Hiking vs. Forest Therapy on Physical and Mental Health of Couples: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-20, January.
    2. Chen Liao & Liying Nong & Yu-Feng Wu & Yu-Tai Wu & Jian-Hong Ye, 2023. "The Relationships between University Students’ Physical Activity Needs, Involvement, Flow Experience and Sustainable Well-Being in the Post-Pandemic Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-17, May.
    3. Jeong-Hui Park & Eunhye Yoo & Youngdeok Kim & Jung-Min Lee, 2021. "What Happened Pre- and during COVID-19 in South Korea? Comparing Physical Activity, Sleep Time, and Body Weight Status," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-13, May.
    4. Qingyuan Luo & Peng Zhang & Yijia Liu & Xiujie Ma & George Jennings, 2022. "Intervention of Physical Activity for University Students with Anxiety and Depression during the COVID-19 Pandemic Prevention and Control Period: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-20, November.
    5. Katarzyna Ługowska & Wojciech Kolanowski & Joanna Trafialek, 2023. "Increasing Physical Activity at School Improves Physical Fitness of Early Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-22, January.
    6. Irfan Ullah & Md. Saiful Islam & Sajjad Ali & Hashaam Jamil & Muhammad Junaid Tahir & Aatik Arsh & Jaffer Shah & Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam, 2021. "Insufficient Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors among Medical Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-10, September.
    7. Éva Bácsné Bába & Anetta Müller & Christa Pfau & Renátó Balogh & Éva Bartha & György Szabados & Zoltán Bács & Kinga Ráthonyi-Ódor & Gergely Ráthonyi, 2023. "Sedentary Behavior Patterns of the Hungarian Adult Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-15, February.
    8. Mateusz Ciski & Krzysztof Rząsa, 2023. "Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression in the Investigation of Local COVID-19 Anomalies Based on Population Age Structure in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-23, May.
    9. Marine Kirsch & Damien Vitiello, 2022. "The COVID-19 Pandemic Lowers Active Behavior of Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases, Healthy Peoples and Athletes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-14, January.
    10. David Jungwirth & Daniela Haluza, 2023. "Sports and the Pandemic: The Impact of COVID-19 on Active Living and Life Satisfaction of Climbers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, January.
    11. Mario J. Valladares-Garrido & Luis Eduardo Zapata-Castro & Cinthia Karina Picón-Reategui & Ana Paula Mesta-Pintado & Ronald Alberto Picón-Reategui & Mariana Huaman-Garcia & César Johan Pereira-Victori, 2022. "Association between Working Time and Burnout Syndrome in Peruvian Military during the Second Epidemic Wave of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    12. Manuel Mosqueira-Ourens & José M. Sánchez-Sáez & Aitor Pérez-Morcillo & Laura Ramos-Petersen & Andrés López-Del-Amo & José L. Tuimil & Adrián Varela-Sanz, 2021. "Effects of a 48-Day Home Quarantine during the Covid-19 Pandemic on the First Outdoor Running Session among Recreational Runners in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, March.
    13. Eui-Jae Lee & Dong-il Seo & Seung-Man Lee & Jong-Hyuck Kim, 2022. "Changes in Physical Fitness among Elementary and Middle School Students in Korea before and after COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-16, September.
    14. Maria Elvén & Birgitta Kerstis & Jonas Stier & Charlotta Hellström & Petra von Heideken Wågert & Micael Dahlen & Daniel Lindberg, 2022. "Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Swedish Population Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-15, February.
    15. Aurélie Goncalves & Sarah Le Vigouroux & Elodie Charbonnier, 2021. "University Students’ Lifestyle Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Four-Wave Longitudinal Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-9, August.
    16. Khaled Trabelsi & Achraf Ammar & Liwa Masmoudi & Omar Boukhris & Hamdi Chtourou & Bassem Bouaziz & Michael Brach & Ellen Bentlage & Daniella How & Mona Ahmed & Patrick Mueller & Notger Mueller & Hsen , 2021. "Sleep Quality and Physical Activity as Predictors of Mental Wellbeing Variance in Older Adults during COVID-19 Lockdown: ECLB COVID-19 International Online Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-18, April.
    17. Asaduzzaman Khan & Kazi R. Ahmed & Tarissa Hidajat & Elizabeth J. Edwards, 2022. "Examining the Association between Sports Participation and Mental Health of Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-11, December.
    18. Dorota Groffik & Karel Frömel & Mateusz Ziemba & Josef Mitáš, 2021. "The Association between Participation in Organized Physical Activity and the Structure of Weekly Physical Activity in Polish Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    19. Aureliusz Kosendiak & Magdalena Król & Milena Ściskalska & Marta Kepinska, 2021. "The Changes in Stress Coping, Alcohol Use, Cigarette Smoking and Physical Activity during COVID-19 Related Lockdown in Medical Students in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-15, December.
    20. Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko & Arkaitz Castañeda-Babarro & Patxi León Guereño, 2020. "On the Way to the Marathon—Motivation for Participating in Mass Running Events Among Children and Adolescents: Results of the Poznan Half Marathon Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-9, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:10797-:d:902101. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.