Excessively low weight might also undermine the health of adolescents

researchers have found that not only overweight but also being too thin can influence negatively on the health status of adolescents. It is a good age to strengthen, through education, healthy ideas.

Researchers at the University of Granada have validated a series of tests to assess in a simple and reliable fitness in children and adolescents.

This is important because improved fitness can prevent morbidity and mortality (both overall and cardiovascular) as adults.

And recent scientific work is key because it highlights an often overlooked point: along with overweight and obesity on the much referred to, have an excessively low body weight also affects negatively on the health status of adolescents.

This research has been developed by Dr. Enrique Garcia Artero, Department of Physiology, University of Granada, headed by Prof. Manuel J. Castillo Garzón. To carry out its author was based on data from national and European projects AVENA (Food and Assessment of Nutritional Status of Adolescents Spanish), HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) and ALPHA (Assessing Levels of Physical Activity and Fitness, Public Health Executive Agency).

In total, 3,000 Spanish adolescents, 3,500 teenagers in Europe and an additional sample of 126 adolescents from Granada were included in this work.

RELIABLE EVIDENCE
The tests validated by Garcia Artero include tests such as the 20 meters back and forth, hand grip strength, the long jump with feet together, body mass index, waist circumference and skin folds that can be easily implemented by the PE teacher.

According to the study coordinator, “not only overweight and obesity but also a low body weight affecting the level of physical fitness of adolescents.”

OVERWEIGHT AND UNDERWEIGHT
Although it has been studied and published about overweight and obesity among children, Spanish scientists have shown how the prevalence of adolescents who have excessively low weight is not as small as a priori might be expected (3.9% among boys and 4 , 8% among girls).

In fact this percentage among girls became higher than that of obesity (3.0%).

Enrique Garcia Artero believes that the major social significance of this work is perhaps “relevant information so that brings us to the level of physical fitness of adolescents and how it determines his health. Unlike adults, children and adolescents involve population groups that can, relatively easily, instilling in them a healthy lifestyle. “