Declining cardiorespiratory fitness between childhood and adulthood linked to obesity and insulin resistance in adulthood
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Reduced cardiorespiratory fitness in young adults is associated with various risk factors for incident cardiovascular disease, such as obesity. To investigate the extent to which childhood and adulthood fitness are associated with adult obesity and insulin resistance, a follow-up cohort of 647 adults participating in the Australian Schools Health and Fitness Survey in 1985 underwent anthropometry and cardiorespiratory fitness assessments. Insulin resistance was defined as a HOMA index >75th sex-specific percentile. The study results revealed that lower levels of cardiorespiratory fitness during childhood were associated with increased odds of adult total obesity (defined as BMI >30 kg/m2) and insulin resistance, a decline in fitness level between childhood and adulthood being associated with increased obesity and insulin resistance per unit decline. In conclusion, a decline in fitness from childhood to adulthood is associated with obesity and insulin resistance in adulthood. For this reason, programs aimed at maintaining high childhood physical activity into adulthood may have the potential for reducing the burden of obesity and type 2 diabetes in adults.
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