Association of teaching structure and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in a representative sample of girls from public schools of Parana (Brazil)

Regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) reduces cardiovascular diseases (CVD) mortality and provides better quality of life to all age. In addition, MVPA, the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an essential component of physical fitness.

To test if adolescents attending full-time education (FTE) have higher amounts of MVPA and CRF than part-time education (PTE) adolescents and if it is associated with more favorable levels of cardiovascular risk factors.

Cross-sectional study from public schools in Curitiba, Brazil. The study included 709 girls. Body mass, height, abdominal circumference (AC), and blood pressure were measured. Physical activity level was self-reported with the Three-Day Physical Activity Recall questionnaire. The 20-m shuttle run test was used to estimate VO2peak. Ordinary least squares path analyses were implemented to construct the conditional process models.

Participating in FTE was associated with higher VO2peak amongst the oldest girls, and with higher amounts of MVPA time amongst the youngest girls, as demonstrated by moderated by age path coefficients of VO2peak/MVPA regressed on school type. In addition, FTE girls had lower body mass index, AC, and waist-to-height ratio than PTE students, but higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The indirect associations of school type with CVD risk factors via VO2peak were dependent on age, meaning that oldest FTE girls had more favorable VO2peak, which in turn was associated with more favorable adiposity and blood pressure parameters than PTE girls

These results reinforce the importance of implementing physical activity programs within the school environment to promote students’ CRF and, consequently, health indicators