Perceived Difficulties in Physical Tasks and Physical Fitness in Treatment- and Non-Treatment-Seeking Youths with Obesity
Youths with obesity are more likely to experience physical and psychosocial distress which strongly limits physical activity, with consequences on the quality of life. Most evidence of lower physical fitness and physical activity levels has been reported in treatment-seeking samples, while few data...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/9/1351 |
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| author | Giada Ballarin Maria Rosaria Licenziati Olivia Di Vincenzo Luca Scalfi Giuliana Valerio |
| author_facet | Giada Ballarin Maria Rosaria Licenziati Olivia Di Vincenzo Luca Scalfi Giuliana Valerio |
| author_sort | Giada Ballarin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Youths with obesity are more likely to experience physical and psychosocial distress which strongly limits physical activity, with consequences on the quality of life. Most evidence of lower physical fitness and physical activity levels has been reported in treatment-seeking samples, while few data are available in community samples. Our aim was to assess whether perceived difficulties in physical tasks and physical fitness performance differed between treatment- and non-treatment-seeking youths with obesity, enrolled from a hospital (H) and a school (S). Three hundred fifty-one youths (269 from H and 82 from S) were enrolled. Sports participation, sedentary habits and perceived difficulties in physical tasks were assessed by interview. Six-minute walk test (SMWD) and long jump (LJ) were performed. BMI Z-score, sedentary time and perceived difficulties were higher in H vs. S. In addition, youths from H scored worse in SMWD and LJ. For the same BMI Z-score, the perceived difficulties and physical fitness were poorer in the H compared to the S group. The setting (H) was the stronger predictor of perceived difficulties and lower performance. Our findings underline that physical aspects imposed by obesity are more evident in treatment-seeking youths. Counseling related to perceived difficulties in physical tasks and performance is useful to treat youth with obesity with appropriate and personalized modalities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:24:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4801fcadb754944b23ef1d7807e108c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:24:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4801fcadb754944b23ef1d7807e108c2023-11-23T15:37:35ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672022-09-0199135110.3390/children9091351Perceived Difficulties in Physical Tasks and Physical Fitness in Treatment- and Non-Treatment-Seeking Youths with ObesityGiada Ballarin0Maria Rosaria Licenziati1Olivia Di Vincenzo2Luca Scalfi3Giuliana Valerio4Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80133 Naples, ItalyObesity and Endocrine Disease Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Santobono-Pausilipon Children’s Hospital, 80129 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, 80131 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Public Health, Federico II University of Naples, 80131 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80133 Naples, ItalyYouths with obesity are more likely to experience physical and psychosocial distress which strongly limits physical activity, with consequences on the quality of life. Most evidence of lower physical fitness and physical activity levels has been reported in treatment-seeking samples, while few data are available in community samples. Our aim was to assess whether perceived difficulties in physical tasks and physical fitness performance differed between treatment- and non-treatment-seeking youths with obesity, enrolled from a hospital (H) and a school (S). Three hundred fifty-one youths (269 from H and 82 from S) were enrolled. Sports participation, sedentary habits and perceived difficulties in physical tasks were assessed by interview. Six-minute walk test (SMWD) and long jump (LJ) were performed. BMI Z-score, sedentary time and perceived difficulties were higher in H vs. S. In addition, youths from H scored worse in SMWD and LJ. For the same BMI Z-score, the perceived difficulties and physical fitness were poorer in the H compared to the S group. The setting (H) was the stronger predictor of perceived difficulties and lower performance. Our findings underline that physical aspects imposed by obesity are more evident in treatment-seeking youths. Counseling related to perceived difficulties in physical tasks and performance is useful to treat youth with obesity with appropriate and personalized modalities.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/9/1351obesityhealth-related physical fitnesscardiorespiratory fitnessstrengthchildhood |
| spellingShingle | Giada Ballarin Maria Rosaria Licenziati Olivia Di Vincenzo Luca Scalfi Giuliana Valerio Perceived Difficulties in Physical Tasks and Physical Fitness in Treatment- and Non-Treatment-Seeking Youths with Obesity Children obesity health-related physical fitness cardiorespiratory fitness strength childhood |
| title | Perceived Difficulties in Physical Tasks and Physical Fitness in Treatment- and Non-Treatment-Seeking Youths with Obesity |
| title_full | Perceived Difficulties in Physical Tasks and Physical Fitness in Treatment- and Non-Treatment-Seeking Youths with Obesity |
| title_fullStr | Perceived Difficulties in Physical Tasks and Physical Fitness in Treatment- and Non-Treatment-Seeking Youths with Obesity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceived Difficulties in Physical Tasks and Physical Fitness in Treatment- and Non-Treatment-Seeking Youths with Obesity |
| title_short | Perceived Difficulties in Physical Tasks and Physical Fitness in Treatment- and Non-Treatment-Seeking Youths with Obesity |
| title_sort | perceived difficulties in physical tasks and physical fitness in treatment and non treatment seeking youths with obesity |
| topic | obesity health-related physical fitness cardiorespiratory fitness strength childhood |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/9/1351 |
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